Prabowo Wants To Strengthen Indonesia-Malaysia Relations: We Can No Longer Disagree

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in Malaysia/PHOTO: Prabowo Subianto's Media Team

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the General Border Committee (GBC) of Malindo was a strategic program between Indonesia and Malaysia that was formed by the leaders of the two countries 50 years ago.

He conveyed this when giving a speech after a meeting with Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin bin Hussein in the framework of the 42nd Session of the Malindo GBC, Tuesday, 9 August.

After the meeting, the two countries commemorated the 50th anniversary of GBC Malindo which was celebrated with a dinner together.

“GBC emerged because of the awareness of the Malaysian and Indonesian leaders that we must no longer be incompatible. So this is the meaning of GBC, which is today's 50th anniversary," Prabowo said in a written statement, Wednesday, August 10.

Prabowo said that the achievement of GBC Malindo's 50 years was proud. The reason is that the two countries succeeded in maintaining the program established to foster relations and peace between the two allied countries after the political tensions between the two countries in the past.

“Indonesia-Malaysia has a special relationship. The United States and Britain have a special relationship. That is the case for Indonesia and Malaysia. It has a special relationship," he said.

“I remember my former leaders, my commanders saying, 'If Malaysia is pinched, Indonesia will feel the pain. If Indonesia catches the flu, maybe Malaysia is the one coughing.' That's how the relationship between our leaders used to be," he continued.

The starting point of the cooperative relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia began in 1966 where Indonesia and Malaysia signed a peace agreement by the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Malik and Malaysian Foreign Minister Tun Abdul Razak. This agreement is the starting point

This relationship improved with the signing of the Security Arrangement in 1967, followed by reforms in 1972 and the establishment of GBC Malindo as a forum for discussion of operations and exercises at the border. The first GBC Malindo trial took place on July 25, 1972.

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of GBC Malindo which has recorded achievements, including 42 sessions, the concept of "whole of government" which is applied in maintaining the safety of the land, sea and air borders of Indonesia and Malaysia involving the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, TNI, POLRI, Maritime Security Agency. (Bakamla) RI, Directorate General of Indonesian Customs and Excise, Ministry of Defense Malaysia, Malaysian Army Forces, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Maritime Authority, and the Royal Malaysian Army Chief of Staff.