SINTANG, West Kalimantan: Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to enhance their cooperation by deploying servicemen to secure the boundary markers along their land borders in West Kalimantan's eastern sector, according to an Indonesian military officer, reported Antara news agency.
Colonel Mohamad Isnaeni, Chief of Staff of the 121/Abw Military Command Post, announced that both parties recently signed an agreement to conduct joint border patrols to safeguard the Indonesia-Malaysia boundary markers.
Isnaeni noted that he signed the letter of agreement along with his counterpart, Malaysia's 3rd Infantry Brigade Chief of Staff Lt Col Ahmad Halim Mohd Rosli, representing the Royal Malaysian Army (TDM).
Speaking in Sintang District, West Kalimantan, on Thursday (July 18), Isnaeni noted that the joint border patrols would be conducted by several personnel of the 5/Abw Combat Engineer Battalion (Yonzipur) Border Security Task Force and 10 personnel of TDM's Royal Ranger Regiment (RRD).
In addition to border patrols, Isnaeni said, the two armies have pledged to conduct community services and other activities by involving residents in border areas.
Those activities aim to secure the two countries' boundary lines and to strengthen Indonesia and Malaysia's friendship, he added.
Lt Col Ahmad Halim welcomed the agreement, saying that the TNI-AD and TDM would hopefully maintain their good relations.
As reported earlier, the Indonesian and Malaysian armed forces continue to intensify their relations.
In May, Indonesia and Malaysia conducted a joint air patrol to secure the Malacca Strait, which is a vital waterway for global trade.
For the joint air patrol, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) dispatched two F-16s, while the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) deployed F-18 Hornets.
According to a press statement recently issued by the TNI-AU, the two Indonesian fighter jets of Squadron 16 took off from the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Riau Province.
First Lieutenant Galih Rakasiwi and First Lieutenant Ghazi Umar Marzuq piloted the F-16s. They met with their Malaysian counterparts while flying over the Strait of Malacca.
According to the chief of the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Air Commodore Feri Yunaldi, the air forces of both countries are working together to maintain peace and security in the Malacca Strait.
He said that the joint air patrol would strengthen bilateral and military ties, adding that both Indonesia and Malaysia would secure their respective air sovereignty.
He pointed out that the joint air patrol demonstrates the two countries' commitment to securing regional peace and security, which would benefit the region's economic growth and stability. - Bernama-Antara
