Kuala lumpur: The recent incident involving a Petronas vessel that was surrounded and driven away by a group of fishing boats near Ketapang, Madura Island in Indonesia has been resolved amicably. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that while the Malaysian government takes the matter seriously, it had not escalated to a level requiring intervention from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Both nations maintain strong diplomatic channels to address such issues.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar emphasized in the Dewan Rakyat that the incident does not necessitate contacting President Prabowo, underscoring the generally good relations between Malaysia and Indonesia. He indicated that any border issues are typically resolved amicably as friends. 'As for encroachment cases involving fishermen from either Malaysia or Indonesia, we always try to settle them diplomatically,' Anwar remarked in response to a query from Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian).
Addressing broader border issues, Anwar mentioned that the government has no plans to establish a Permanent Boundary Commission. Instead, it will continue to employ dialogue and diplomatic platforms with the countries involved. 'Whether it's Thailand or Vietnam in terms of maritime boundaries, or Singapore and Brunei, although there are minor differences, there remain a few areas yet to be finalised,' he added.
In response to an additional question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) about Malaysia's post-ASEAN Chairmanship position and cooperation with major powers, Anwar assured that Malaysia's international relations network would remain robust. He highlighted the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where Trump is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Malaysia and attend a special meeting with ASEAN countries.
Anwar noted, 'At the very least, the US recognises that Malaysia, with its policy of centrality, is the only country capable of bringing together nations with differing views.' He expressed that Malaysia welcomes engagement not only because of ASEAN but also due to its foreign policy, which prioritizes friendship with all parties to safeguard national interests in trade, international relations, geopolitics, and investments.
The 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 26 to 28, will witness the participation of leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states, as well as leaders and representatives from various continents. Timor-Leste, previously an observer, is set to become the 11th member of the regional grouping. ASEAN currently includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.