The Jakarta Post, 2 July 2018
Malaysia and Indonesia can build a stronger and more beneficial business partnership if the two countries can wisely utilize their huge joint domestic market, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday (June 29) on his official visit. Mahathir suggested Indonesia and Malaysia jointly produce goods for consumption in the strong domestic markets of both countries while expanding sales in other destinations. After a meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Friday (June 29), Mahathir told the press that Indonesia and Malaysia needed to fight together against the European Union’s plan to restrict exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivative products to its member countries. Mahathir said he could not accept environmental concerns as the EU’s reason for restricting CPO exports. Indonesia and Malaysia have to fight together against the policy. Their argument about deforestation because of palm oil is not valid, he said.