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KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia and Indonesia on Friday agreed to ease tension in the disputed oil-rich South Sulawesi Sea with Kuala Lumpur saying there was no need to stage shows of force in the area.
"While we wait for a solution (to the dispute), we agreed today that the navies of the two countries will try to find a solution to reduce tension in the area," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a joint news conference with visiting Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla.
"While there was no need to withdraw warships from the disputed waters, the two countries need not stage a show of forces, just normal presence will be alright," said Najib, who is also defence minister.
Kalla said the navy chiefs of both countries had discussed how they could conduct "friendly patrols" without causing a conflict.
In April, warships from the two countries brushed sides near the Karang Unarang reef east of Borneo island, where Indonesia has built a lighthouse to strengthen its territorial claims in the disputed region.
Tensions have been high since Malaysia granted an oil concession in the region on February 16 to Anglo-Dutch firm Shell.
Jakarta says the blocks awarded by state oil firm Petronas are not in territory controlled by Malaysia.
Officials from both sides began negotiations to settle the overlapping claims to the area last month and are due to meet again this month in Malaysia. - AFP/de
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