TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry regretted former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's claims that Riau is part of Malaysia's Johor state. The ministry issued a statement asserting the Riau Islands is a province of Indonesia, as determined based on the principles and provisions of applicable international law.

"Indonesia does not see any legal basis and reason for Tun Mahathir's statement," the ministry's spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, said in a statement received on Wednesday, June 22.

Faizasyah asserted that the Riau Archipelago is, and will always be, the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.

"In a time when the world is facing many challenges, a senior politician should not be making baseless statements that can harm friendships," he remarked.

In a speech on Sunday, June 19, Mahathir said that Riau and Singapore were historically "Malay lands". The former PM even suggested reclaiming Riau and Singapore.

Mahathir said in his speech that the Malay lands stretch all the way from the Isthmus of Kra in Southern Thailand all the way down to Riau, but over the years this has been reduced to only include the Malay Peninsula.

"I wonder whether we will continue to own the peninsula. I am worried for the future of Malays, whether the peninsula land will also be owned by another party," he said, adding that Malaysia's inability matched its powerlessness to claim its rights.

Daniel Ahmad

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