JAKARTA: Some 300 Malaysians living and working in Indonesia greeted Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with cheers and applause as he arrived at the Malaysian Embassy for a special session during his two-day visit to Indonesia.
The crowd queued and waited for nearly an hour at the multi-purpose hall of the embassy.
When Dr Mahathir turned up, they wasted no time in whipping out their smartphones to get a shot of him walking to the VIP table.
Earlier in the evening, Dr Mahathir and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali were met on arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana.
Both leaders will hold bilateral talks in Bogor today.
Indonesia is the first Asean stop for Dr Mahathir since he became Prime Minister on May 10.
Dr Mahathir will be given the honour of planting angsana (rosewood) saplings on the grounds of Istana Bogor, the Indonesian presidential palace today.
He will also be accorded a 19-gun salute and will be inspecting a guard of honour at Istana Bogor.
“Angsana wood is known for its durability and is symbolic of Indonesia’s relationship with Malaysia.
“Last year was the 60th year of Malaysia-Indonesia diplomatic relations and Jakarta is our strategic partner.
“This visit will further strengthen ties,” Zamshari Shaharan, the Malaysian deputy chief of mission in Jakarta, told reporters here.
Dr Mahathir will also meet the who’s who of Indonesia’s business community.
Zamshari said Dr Mahathir is viewed as a senior figure in the region and ties between the two countries can serve as the bedrock for Asean cooperation.
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