PDIP Legislator Values Mahathir Mohamad's Claim About Riau Islands Provocation, Could Damage Indonesia-Malaysia Relations

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I, TB Hasanuddin, assessed that the statement by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad regarding the claim to the Riau Islands was inappropriate and unwise.

"That statement is not correct and unwise. The boundaries between Singapore, the Riau Islands Province (Indonesia) and Malaysia are now final. There is no need to argue about it anymore," he said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, June 23.

This PDIP politician considered that Mahathir's statement seemed to provoke the Malaysian government to claim the Riau Islands as part of the neighboring country.

This statement, Hasanuddin added, could have a negative impact on bilateral relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, and could create tensions.

"Indonesia has also never questioned and brought up the territory of Malaysia which used to be part of the Majapahit territory. We must not be provoked by opinions that can provoke tension in this region," he said.

Regarding the territory and national boundaries between the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and Malaysia, he continued, so far this has been considered final by the provisions of international law and the two countries.

"Let it go and regarding the Indonesia-Malaysia border, we have also recognized each other," he said.