Jakarta, September 3^rd: Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Faculty of Law and International Relations, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya Indonesia (UPMI) in Jakarta recently. The MOU ceremony was organised in conjunction with the official launching ceremony of cooperation between Pusat Kajian Ikatan Malaysia-Indonesia or Research Centre for Malaysia-Indonesia Relations (iKMI) and Indonesia-Malaysia Studies Program (IMSP), Institute of East Asian Studies, UPMI.

The function was also attended by Her Excellency Retno L.P. Marsudi, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, and His Excellency Senator Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Malaysian Foreign Minister. The auspicious event was hosted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international think-tank organisation that has close research, policy recommendation, and training collaboration with the ASEAN secretariat.

The Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Gs. Ts. Dr. Mohd Ekhwan Hj. Toriman represented UKM in the signing ceremony. The UPMI was represented by the rector, Professor. Dr. Djisman S. Simandjuntak. The ceremony was also witnessed by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Prof Dato Dr. Wan Kamal Mujani, UKM Registrar, and IKMAS Director. For the UPMI side, Ambassador Dr. Rizal Sukma, the Executive Director, East Asian Studies Centre and Dr N Hassan Wirajuda, Dean of Faculty of Law and International Relations were also in attendance. Dr Hassan was the former foreign minister of Indonesia during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration.

Several invited guests, rectors, deans, and university representatives from Jakarta, Makassar, Medan, and Yogyakarta also attended both events.

iKMI, which is established on March 29^th, 2023, is a new research outfit under IKMAS. Its establishment is a follow up to the call made by His Excellency the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his official to Jakarta in January 2023, who called for both Indonesia and Malaysia to work collaboratively on regional issues in order to secure both countries’ political and economic interests.UKM and IKMAS welcome the call by establishing iKMI.

The main objective of iKMI is to become a referral policy, research, and consultative centre on Malaysia-Indonesia relations. This could be achieved through strategic partnership with other research institute, government agencies, and companies from both countries. Furthermore, the new centre also strives to produce experts on Indonesia as well as Malaysian studies.

Both foreign ministers, Her Excellency Retno L.P. Marsudi dan His Excellency Senator Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry emphasised the urgent needs to face with regional threats to ASEAN solidarity. They pointed out the major power rivalry, South China Sea overlapping claims, humanitarian and human rights issues, and global war on economy and trade. They also hoped that cooperation between iKMI-UKM and IMSP-UPMI could assist and advice both governments in designing effective strategic and policy approach to address those challenges.