RRI.CO.ID, Kuala Lumpur – Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Raden Dato' Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo held a courtesy meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to lay out a comprehensive framework for an elevated strategic partnership between the two Southeast Asian nations.

The bilateral talks, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, heavily emphasized unlocking the massive economic potential of the regional halal trade and establishing seamless transportation links to bolster post-pandemic trade resilience, Antara reported.

Ambassador Iman was accompanied by Head of Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), Ahmad Haikal Hassan, signaling a coordinated push to harmonize cross-border halal standards. He expressed his deep appreciation to the Malaysian government for its sustained diplomatic support since the commencement of his assignment in Kuala Lumpur.

During the session, he briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on a series of recent coordination meetings held with various Malaysian industrial stakeholders and outlined Jakarta’s upcoming bilateral priorities.

Key among the joint initiatives discussed was the blueprint for the upcoming Indonesia-Malaysia Annual Consultation scheduled for later this year. The two leaders also reviewed logistical acceleration plans, focusing on increasing maritime connectivity through the launch of dedicated Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) shipping routes to streamline direct trade between the neighboring countries.

Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reaffirmed that Indonesia remains an irreplaceable strategic ally for Malaysia across bilateral, regional, and multilateral spectrums, describing current diplomatic ties as exceptionally close, stable, and unique.

The meeting placed a major emphasis on the rapidly growing global halal ecosystem. Recognizing their positions as primary Islamic economic hubs, Indonesia and Malaysia mutually agreed to optimize joint ventures in the halal sector.

This collaborative framework will include synchronized product promotions, shared trade expos, and joint industrial exhibitions designed to stimulate domestic growth and deliver tangible economic benefits to citizens on both sides of the Malacca Strait.

The dialogue concluded on a warm and highly constructive note, reinforcing a shared ministerial commitment to deepening the geopolitical and economic bonds that anchor the Indonesia-Malaysia alliance. ***