Eyes on Anwar in Jakarta

Friendly neighbours: Anwar receiving congratulatory calls from foreign leaders on his first day in the Prime Minister’s Office in November. Jokowi was the first one to call him. — SADIQ ASYRAF/PMO

WHEN Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Jakarta today for his first official visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister, he will be the fourth Malaysian leader Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo meets in fewer than five years.

It is a tradition for any new Malaysian leader to travel to Indonesia first, signalling the close ties the two countries enjoy – except for hiccups along the way which have been managed considerably well by both sides in the last few years despite several changes in Malaysia’s government.