Prabowo-Anwar Meeting postponed, Rescheduled for January
A highly anticipated meeting between Indonesian defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister anwar Ibrahim, originally scheduled for December 23rd in Langkawi, Malaysia, has been postponed. The postponement has led to a flurry of explanations and clarifications from both governments.
According to Indonesian State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, the meeting is now tentatively planned for January 2025. “Yes, there is a possibility in January,” Hadi stated following a Christmas festivity in Jakarta. He explained that the rescheduling is the result of coordinating with both countries’ presidential protocol teams, aiming for the earliest possible date.
Initial reports suggested the cancellation stemmed from Minister Subianto’s illness.Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain the situation: “My family and I were on Langkawi Island to receive a visit from a friend,president Prabowo Subianto,today. However, last night he asked for the meeting to be postponed for several days due to fever,” Anwar wrote.
However, this account differs from that of Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, who attributed the cancellation to urgent matters requiring Minister Subianto’s immediate return to Jakarta. upon his return, minister Subianto promptly chaired a high-level cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace.
Minister Hadi clarified the reasons for the postponement, stating that the end-of-year period presented scheduling conflicts. “At the end of the year, Christmas is first, preparation for the New Year, that’s it,” he explained.
The postponement of this high-profile meeting between two key figures in Southeast Asian politics has raised some eyebrows, but both sides have emphasized their commitment to rescheduling the meeting at the earliest chance. The January date offers a fresh start for this vital diplomatic engagement.
The meeting between Minister Subianto and Prime Minister Ibrahim is considered crucial for strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, two major players in the ASEAN region. the rescheduled January meeting is expected to address a range of issues of mutual interest.
