SINTANG, West Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen cooperation to deploy military personnel to guard land border markers in the eastern district of West Kalimantan, an Indonesian military official said.
Colonel Mohamad Isnaeni, chief of staff of the 121/ABW military command, said the two countries recently signed an agreement to conduct joint border patrols to protect Indonesia’s border with Malaysia.
Isnaeni said he signed the agreement together with Lt. Col. Ahmad Halim bin Haji Mohamed Rosli, chief of staff of the Malaysian 3rd Infantry Brigade, representing the Royal Malaysian Army (TDM).
Isnaeni said on Thursday in Sintang district, West Kalimantan, that the joint border patrol will be carried out by several members of the 5th/Abw Combat Engineer Battalion (Yonjipur) Border Guard Unit and 10 members of TDM’s Royal Ranger Regiment (RRD).
Isnaeni said that in addition to border security, the two militaries were committed to carrying out community service and other activities involving local residents in border areas.
These activities are aimed at safeguarding the border between the two countries and strengthening friendly relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, he added.
Malaysian 3rd Infantry Brigade chief of staff Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Halim bin Haji Mohamed Rosli welcomed the agreement and said he hoped TNI-AD and TDM could maintain their good relationship.
As previously reported, the Indonesian and Malaysian militaries continue to strengthen ties.
Indonesia and Malaysia conducted joint aerial patrols in May to ensure security in the Straits of Malacca, a vital waterway for global trade.
For the joint aerial patrols, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) deployed two F-16s, while the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) deployed an F-18 Hornet.
According to a recent press statement issued by the TNI-AU, two fighter jets from Indonesia’s 16th Squadron took off from Rusmin Nurjadin Air Base in Riau province.
Lt. Gali Lakashwi and Lt. Ghazi Umar Marzuk piloted the F-16s and met with their Malaysian colleagues during the flight over the Straits of Malacca.
According to Air Brigadier General Feri Yunardi, commander of the Rusmin Nurjadin Air Base, the Indonesian and Malaysian air forces are cooperating in maintaining peace and security in the Straits of Malacca.
He said the joint air patrols would strengthen bilateral and military ties between the two countries and ensure that both Indonesia and Malaysia have sovereignty over their respective skies.
He noted that the joint air patrol demonstrates the two countries’ determination to ensure peace and security in the region and will contribute to economic growth and stability in the region.
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