A joint military exercise between Malaysian and Indonesian troops would enhance cooperation to tackle cross-border crime like smuggling and sea piracy, an army chief said Monday .

It would also help foster closer rapport and understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia, Deputy Chief of the Malaysian Army Lt Gen. Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin said at the official launch of the exercise in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah State in east Malaysia.

The exercise is the latest edition of the exercises under the Malindo Series which have been conducted by the armies of the two countries since 1972.

The current exercise, divided into two phases, would end on May 31, he added.

The first phase involves war games and operational planning and implementation while the second phase will include field maneuvers in Kota Belud, Sabah's interior, according to the deputy army chief.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Deputy Army Chief Lt Gen. Endang Suwarya said the joint exercises would increase the professionalism of the two armies.

The holding of the joint exercise is an indication of improvement in the relations of the two armed forces following a sea incident in which Malaysian and Indonesian navy vessels brushed against each other in the Sulawesi Sea last month.

The dispute erupted after Malaysia's oil company, Petronas, awarded oil exploration rights to Shell in two exploration blocks in the Sulawesi Sea.

Jakarta protested against the move, claiming that the resource-rich area in question was within Indonesia's territorial waters.

The top leaders of the two countries have agreed that the dispute should be resolved through peaceful ways.

Source: Xinhua