KUALA LUMPUR: The leaders of Malaysia and Brunei have urged the Joint Land Boundary Technical Committee to expedite works on the demarcation and survey of the land boundary between both countries.
This was especially in agreed priority areas and those of significant interest to the people of both countries, said a joint statement on the 23rd Annual Leaders' Consultation between Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"They reaffirmed the agreement for both sides to not undertake any developmental activities in areas where joint demarcation and survey has yet to be completed. Both leaders further agreed to explore the possibility of establishing cooperation to carry out coordinated patrols to ensure among others, uninterrupted technical work in such areas.
"In this regard, the leaders tasked their respective Foreign Affair Ministers to ensure the convening of the First Meeting of the Joint Brunei Darussalam-Malaysia Land Boundary Committee to discuss the findings of the Joint Land Boundary Technical Committee and to further strategise a concrete way forward on all related outstanding issues," said the statement.
Sultan Hassanal and Muhyiddin had also underscored the need to further enhance closer economic cooperation, especially between Brunei and Sabah and Sarawak, in which they had reiterated the importance of enhancing connectivity with the opening of the Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge.
It said the bridge,which links the Brunei-Muara district with the Temburong district, would facilitate greater international trade and investment opportunities between Brunei and Malaysia as well as through the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
They also welcomed efforts to strengthen business-to-business engagement, including the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Chambers of Commerce and Industries of both countries which would cover economic cooperation and commercial exchanges.
Sultan Hassanal and Muhyiddin had also underlined the importance of synergy in cooperation and promotion in other sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, education as well as connectivity, trade and tourism.