Indonesia and Malaysia Meet for First Summit Since Covid-19 Pandemic

“Indonesia and Malaysia are equally concerned about the situation in Myanmar. Therefore, we urge our foreign ministers to discuss [the coup in Myanmar] with ASEAN,” the President asserted.

“[Prime Minister Muhyiddin] and I hope the conflicting parties [in Myanmar] can resolve their issues in a peaceful manner.”

Also read: Indonesia Weighs in on Military Coup in Myanmar

Jokowi also urged Myanmar and other ASEAN member countries to comply with the ASEAN charter. “As ASEAN members, I hope we can respect the rule of law, good governance, democracy, human rights, and a constitutional government.”

Myanmar’s military overthrew Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy [NLD] party earlier this week, after the party beat the military during elections in November 2020 by a landslide. The military also declared a state of emergency for a year, and will hold new elections.

Defending palm oil exports to the European Union

President Jokowi also urged Muhyiddin to stand up for palm oil exports in the European Union [EU], due to Indonesia and Malaysia’s standing as the commodity’s principal producers. “Indonesia will continue to fight for palm oil [exports to the European Union],” Jokowi asserted.

“However, these efforts will be more effective if Indonesia and Malaysia can jointly carry them out.”

Also read: Indonesia Demands Equal Treatment From EU Over Palm Oil

Muhyiddin agreed. “Discrimination against palm oil exports do not reflect its standing as a sustainable product. The EU is also violating its own free trade commitment to the World Trade Organization,” he added.

“Malaysia will work with Indonesia in pushing for palm oil exports through such forums as the
Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC). We are taking this step to protect the millions of small-scale palm oil industry growers who depend on the commodity for their livelihoods.”

Indonesia plans to sue the European Union in the WTO over the Union’s Renewable Energy Directives II policy, which Jakarta sees as discriminatory to palm oil.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket denied that the Union discriminated against palm oil last January. He pointed out that exports of the commodity to the EU increased by 27 percent in the first 10 months of 2020.

(Writers: Dian Erika Nugraheny, Fitria Chusna Farisa | Editors: Krisiandi, Bayu Galih
Kristian Erdianto)

Sources:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/05/17450801/jokowi-dan-pm-malaysia-bahas-mou-perlindungan-pekerja-domestik-asal-ri?page=all#page2. 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/05/13252251/indonesia-dan-malaysia-dorong-pertemuan-asean-bahas-kudeta-myanmar. 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/05/14344661/jokowi-harapkan-komitmen-malaysia-melawan-diskriminasi-sawit-di-pasar-uni?page=all#page2.