Indonesia, Malaysia agree to talks on disputed waters

Indonesia has sent fighter jets and more warships to waters it is disputing with Malaysia, but both countries said on Monday they would peacefully resolve claims over the area believed to be rich in undersea oil.

In Jakarta, a navy spokesman said Indonesia had sent three more warships as well as four F-16 fighter jets to the area off the east coast of the island of Borneo, where Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was headed for a visit.

"We will not let an inch of our land or a drop of our ocean fall into the hands of foreigners," said Indonesia's chief navy spokesman, First Admiral Abdul Malik Yusuf.

The ships would arrive in one or two days, joining four already there, Yusuf added. Four F-16s had also been sent to the area, the official news agency Antara reported.

The row follows Malaysia's move to award oil exploration rights in the area and comes as ties between the two predominantly Muslim, ethnic Malay states, are being tested by a Malaysian crackdown on illegal workers, many from Indonesia.

An Indonesian spokesman said the leaders of both countries spoke by telephone on Monday and agreed to reduce tension over the dispute. The two foreign ministers would meet soon to resolve the spat.

Yudhoyono spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi early on Monday by telephone, said a spokesman for the Indonesian leader, Dino Patti Djalal.

"The result of the talks was both leaders agreed they will take measures to control the situation and secondly for both foreign ministers to meet soon to settle this problem," he said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was confident the talks would yield good results.

"Now that both parties are claiming for possession, we will hold diplomatic talks to avoid untoward incidents," Abdullah told staff in Malaysia's administrative capital of Putrajaya.

"We are positive of achieving good results from diplomatic discussions," he said, adding that the talks would be held at foreign ministerial level but no date had been set yet.

Yudhoyono is expected to visit the disputed border area and also nearby Sebatik Island, where Indonesian workers returning from Malaysia have sought shelter in the wake of the Malaysian crackdown on illegal workers, a presidential official has said.

Malaysia suffers a chronic labour shortage and wants the workers to return quickly, although via proper channels, and is unhappy at what it considers is a delay in their return.

- REUTERS