Indonesia must prioritize national interest related to dispute with Malaysia

Indonesia must prioritize national interest before taking steps related to dispute with Malaysia, a minister said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa made the statement following calls from certain parties to withdraw Indonesia's ambassador from Malaysia.

"We have to choose steps we want to make. But we have to put our national interest above all," Natalegawa told a parliamentary hearing.

He said that indeed an ambassador withdrawal will have a big coverage for a short period. However, he said, after the move, problems remain.

"Withdrawal will have a demonstrative impact but short-lived. Besides, problems are still there such as our labors working there, our citizens that are threatened by death penalty, human trafficking, border and others," he said.

He also said that Indonesia must think about how to maintain friendship with its neighboring country.

Besides, according to Natalegawa, Indonesia actively pursues ties normalization if there are any disputes between members of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations.

Tension between Indonesia and Malaysia has been increasing in the past few days following detention of three officials from Indonesia's Marine and Fisheries Ministry by Malaysian police.

Natalegawa also told the members of parliament that Indonesia has sent a protest note to Malaysia which was replied by the same tone. "Malaysia said that the violation has occurred in its teritorry, " he said. According to Natalegawa, it was a part of diplomacy dinamycs. "It means that both countries must synchronize our demands," he said.

Source: Xinhua