The Moment of Introducing New Leaders Becomes a Commitment to Strengthen Cooperation

There is still a lot of homework to be done between Indonesia and Singapore. That is the challenge for potential new leaders.

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto walked with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday (29/4/2024). Like Prabowo, who is the president-elect who will replace President Jokowi, Lawrence Wong is also a replacement for PM Lee Hsien Loong.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The visit of Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong to the Bogor Presidential Palace was a special moment different from his usual visits. When talking on the veranda behind the Bogor Palace, President Joko Widodo was not alone with PM Lee. Different from current practice, President Jokowi was accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and PM Lee was accompanied by Deputy PM Lawrence Wong.

In his speech during the second bilateral meeting between the two countries at the Bogor Palace on Monday (29/4/2024), President Jokowi said that Indonesia and Singapore will have new leaders in 2024. The President believes that the cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore will be stronger under new leadership.

"This year Indonesia and Singapore will have new leaders. I am confident that under new leadership, mutually beneficial cooperation will continue to be strengthened," said President Jokowi.

President Jokowi also expressed appreciation to PM Lee and his cabinet. According to President Jokowi, Indonesia and Singapore's cooperation has been going well under PM Lee's leadership. "I also express my thanks and high appreciation to PM Lee and his team who have been working together all this time," said the President.

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

President Joko Widodo discussed with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Lawrence Wong, while Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong walked alongside Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto upon entering the Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday (29/4/2024). Just like Prabowo who is the elected president who will replace President Jokowi, Lawrence Wong is also a replacement for PM Lee Hsien Loong.

PM Lee Hsien Loong will step down from his position on May 15, 2024, and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over the position. Meanwhile, President Jokowi will also end his term in October. The General Election Commission has designated Prabowo Subianto as the President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 period.

Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo, who was also present at the Bogor Palace, emphasized that the moment of introducing the future leaders of the two countries occurred because Indonesia and Singapore both have the same policies regarding continuity or continuity. continuity. "So, it is hoped that the new leader will also continue and strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation that has been built so far," said Suryo Pratomo.

Also read: Accompanied by his successor, President Jokowi receives a visit from Singapore's PM

For PM Lee and President Jokowi, this meeting also serves as the seventh Leader's Retreat in the 10 years of their partnership. Throughout the decade, Suryo Pratomo mentioned many achievements between the two leaders.

The agreements that have been reached include the signing and implementation of the flight information region (FIR) management agreement, Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and extradition cooperation (ET).

Agreements related to FIR, for example, are already in effect. Ten Indonesian officers have been working at the Air Traffic Control Changi for a month. The agreement was signed in 2022 and will be fully effective in 2024 for a period of 25 years. Indonesia now participates in controlling the FIR area around Changi because it has been returned as Indonesian territory.

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

After discussing at the Veranda of Bogor Palace, President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong re-entered the Palace area to witness the signing of the MoU or agreement notes signed by several ministers. At the Leaders' Retreat event at the Presidential Palace in Bogor on Monday (29/4/2024), several ministers in the Indonesian Cabinet Maju were also present.

Friendly Relationship

Apart from that, the agreed cooperation also relates to the fields of finance, prosecutorial cooperation, green energy, digital economy, food and HR strengthening programs. Suryo Pratomo said that Singapore was Indonesia's biggest investor in the last 10 years. Last year, the value of Singapore's foreign direct investment (FDI) was worth 15.3 billion US dollars and reached 4.2 billion US dollars in semester I-2024 .

Now the format is different because it is not a personal closeness like Pak Harto and Lee Kuan Yew but the results are still good.

"The two new leaders need to get to know each other and work together. That was the message of the Leader's Retreat that brought together the two new potential leaders," he said.

According to Suryo Pratomo, the intimacy between Indonesia and Singapore has been established since the era of President Soeharto and PM Lee Kuan Yew. In fact, their relationship is closer because they can communicate directly and talk face-to-face for hours when they meet.

"Now the format is different because it is not personal closeness, like Pak Harto and Lee Kuan Yew, but the results are still good. "Especially Lee Hsien Loong brought Singapore to become the biggest investor in the last decade for Indonesia," said Suryo Pratomo.

Lee Kuan Yew visits Soeharto. Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew left Pertamina Central Hospital in Jakarta after visiting former President Soeharto on Sunday (1/13/2008).

Collaboration is stronger

The state leaders introduced their replacements who had already been confirmed so they just had to wait for the inauguration.

Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia, Hikmahanto Juwana, added that the meeting of leaders and potential leaders of Indonesia-Singapore was held to ensure that cooperation between the two countries could be stronger. Moreover, the current leader will both fulfill his duties as president and prime minister.

"The country's leaders introduced their successors who have been confirmed, so it is just a matter of waiting for their inauguration, so that they can get to know each other's faces and relationships can be more intimate and not just formal," said Hikmahanto.

Also read: ”Eight Points”, Indonesia-Singapore which will be continued by the new leaders

Hikmahanto assessed that there are still many homework assignments that need to be completed in bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore, such as the implementation of extradition and defense agreements. In addition, there are also issues related to Singapore's investment taxes in Indonesia.

"There are many tasks at hand. Therefore, this meeting is the foundation to be able to solve various problems that will be faced. They are committed to strengthening their relationship," he added.