Indonesia and Malaysia have come together and signed two landmark treaties to end longstanding maritime border disputes.
The first of the two treaties is for the delimitation of the nation’s territorial seas in parts of the straits of Malacca and the Sulawesi Sea. The second pact includes plans to improve border crossings, strengthen border trade and promote investment. The leaders have agreed to resolve other land boundary issues by June 2024.
They also pledged to cooperate closely to fight the European Union’s “highly detrimental measures” against palm oil which is vital for the economy of Malaysia. In addition, they have set up a mechanism to better protect Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. Indonesians make up the bulk of over two million foreign workers in Malaysia, mostly in plantations, industries, and as maids.
