Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (second left) shakes hands with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second right) when he arrived at the Istana Bogor on June 29. Also present were Prime Minister’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali (left) and wife of Indonesian President Iriana Widodo (right). -Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed confidence that relations between Malaysia and Indonesia will be strengthened further following his recent official visit to Indonesia.
In a post on his official Twitter account, Dr Mahathir said he was impressed by the remarkable official welcome Indonesia accorded to him, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and the rest of the Malaysian delegation in Jakarta.
“I believe our meeting has forged an accord in the effort to strengthen bilateral ties. Thank you Bapak Jokowi (Indonesian President Joko Widodo),” Dr Mahathir said in response to a post by the Indonesian President on his Twitter account today.
Dr Mahathir had chosen Indonesia as the first ASEAN country to visit, over two days from June 28, after taking over as the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the second time following the general election in May. Dr Mahathir had also been the prime minister from 1981 to 2003.
During the visit, Dr Mahathir had a four-eyed meeting with Joko Widodo and led the Malaysian side in the delegation talks with the Indonesian side headed by Jokowi, as the Indonesian President is fondly called. -Bernama