RI citizens in M’sia militia
February 15th, 2008 | by Admin |Indonesia and Malaysia may seem borderless to citizens living in far-reaching areas on the Borneo Island, but a new defense and security arrangement may see the lines drawn clearly.
The two countries’ bilateral ties have been in the spotlight recently in connection to news that Malaysia has recruited Indonesian citizens to join the Askar Wathaniyah paramilitary force deployed to safeguard borders on the island.
The issue was raised by several legislators in a hearing between Army Chief Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo and the information, defense and foreign affairs commission at the House of Representatives in Jakarta recently.
Chief Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Gen. Djoko Santoso said the information was not correct but he would have it checked.
Agustadi and his Malaysian counterpart Gen. Muhammad Ismail also denied the information after their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Chief of the Tanjungpura Military Command Maj. Gen. Tono Suratman said there was no recruitment of Indonesian citizens for the Malaysian militia, but said several of their militiamen might be of Indonesian decent.
thejakartapost
