InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, January 27, 2025. The meeting resulted in an agreement to strengthen strategic cooperation in various sectors, including economy, energy, and defense.
During the warm meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing synergy between the two neighboring countries. President Prabowo emphasized the importance of the special relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia, rooted in history, kinship, and close cultural ties.
"We have historical ties, we have blood relations, we have cultural connections, and we even have ethnic relationships. Therefore, I feel that this should make the relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia more distinctive," President Prabowo stated in an official statement reported by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (January 28, 2025).
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, as well as the management of the palm oil industry, which is a key commodity for both countries. Indonesia and Malaysia together account for 80 percent of global palm oil production.
"Whenever I visit certain countries, they always mention the need for palm oil. Egypt, India, Pakistan, all of them. So I think we can do a lot of good together. And thank you for Malaysia's continued support in these matters," President Prabowo said.
Moreover, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector through strategic collaboration between Petronas and Pertamina.
"Our commitment is to ensure cooperation between Petronas and Pertamina, the two oil and gas companies in the region, to agree on exploring new opportunities and also on cross-border transfers," PM Anwar stated.
In the defense sector, cooperation is also a primary focus. PM Anwar highlighted the importance of collaboration with Indonesia, which has experience and strength in this area.
"Both parties agreed to mobilize all available resources, including in defense, where Indonesia has much experience and strength," he said.
In the regional context, both leaders also agreed to strengthen coordination in facing geopolitical challenges and to show alignment on issues related to Palestine.
"This meeting concluded with an agreement to accelerate the implementation of cooperation through intensive coordination between the relevant ministries in both countries," PM Anwar emphasized the importance of concrete steps to ensure the success of this cooperation. (T2)