Sarawak resolves issues with Indonesia via dialogue, says Abdul Karim

KUCHING (Aug 27): Sarawak is determined to address disputes with Indonesia through dialogue and cooperation instead of allowing issues like haze to escalate into conflict, according to Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Minister Abdul Karim emphasized the importance of taking a page from the Malaysia-Indonesia Peace Agreement of 1966, which ended the Indonesian Confrontation peacefully.

He said the 60th anniversary commemoration event at Batu Lintang Memorial Square highlighted that dialogue and diplomacy are the most effective means of resolving conflicts between neighboring nations. Minister Abdul Karim stressed that resolving issues between Sarawak and its Indonesian neighbors, including the recurrent haze problem, should be done amicably.

He highlighted that Sarawak had been engaging with the Indonesian government to tackle fires in West Kalimantan, which had caused the haze to affect the state. Minster Abdul Karim stressed the significance of maintaining historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the communities on both sides of the Borneo border. He highlighted practical cooperation between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, including energy and humanitarian assistance, such as Sarawak Energy's electricity exports to Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara.

Additionally, Sarawak had provided oxygen to hospitals in West Kalimantan during the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister Abdul Karim paid tribute to the Malaysian, Australian, New Zealand, British, and Gurkha servicemen who served in Borneo during the Confrontation, emphasizing that the history of Borneo is part of a broader history of regional cooperation and friendship.

He urged younger generations to learn from the 1966 agreement, emphasizing that peace is achieved through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation. Minister Abdul Karim called on Malaysia and Indonesia to strengthen their ties, transforming the region into a place where borders serve as bridges, communities prosper together, and friendship prevails over division.