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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bilateral media dialogs between Indonesia and Malaysia are important to improve their mutual understanding in cultural terms, a Malaysian minister said here Tuesday.

A Malaysian representative was needed in Indonesia to handle every issue arising in their bilateral relations which experience ups and downs all the time, Malaysian Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Dato Mukhriz Mahatir said.

"I think it is important that we have dialogs where we can all sit down and exchange views, explain matters more clearly," he said at a meeting between Indonesian and Malaysian journalists to discuss efforts to strengthen the ties between the media of the two countries.

He said the suggestion of having a Malaysian spokesman in Indonesia was well taken. "Malaysia should have a spokesman here to handle issues that come up from time to time, and I think it is a very reasonable request and it gives us the opportunity to clear up misunderstandings very quickly and clearly."

Mahatir said the problems that arise between Indonesia and Malaysia as neighbors from time to time should be considered as those sometimes happening among siblings of the same family. "It happens occasionally but should not be taken too seriously," he said.

"I don`t see them as something having a negative impact on our relationships in the long run. As long as we keep having this kind of exchanges, I believe that we can settle all these matters in they way we should," he said.

Besides bilateral media dialogs, government-to-government and people-to-people interaction was also needed to improve mutual understanding among "siblings", according Mahatir.

People-to-people interaction was the most important thing, and can be fulfilled through the civil societies and NGOs which should hold as many exchanges as possible in many fields.

The dialog between Indonesian and Malaysian journalists was also attended by Malaysian Deputy Prime minister Y.A.B Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Among the senior Indonesian journalists present was ANTARA National News Agency Chief Editor Saiful Hadi who is also chairman of the Association of Indonesian-Malaysian Journalists Solidarity (ISWAMI).
(T.A050/HAJM/H-YH/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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