Malaysia ready to defend oil rights at Indonesian meeting: FM

Malaysia is prepared to defend its rights when it holds talks next week with rival Indonesia over a disputed maritime area believed to be rich in oil, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.

The Malaysian government's delegation to the meeting had gathered all the facts to support its position, he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Malaysian and Indonesian warships were sent to the Sulawesi Sea east of Borneo when energy giant Shell was given an oil concession by Malaysia's state oil company Petronas in the disputed area in February.

The two governments agreed last week to hold talks in Jakarta Tuesday to end the tense stand-off.

Syed Hamid said the Malaysian team would include foreign ministry officials, legal officers and officials from maritime agencies.

"There will be many more meetings until both parties are able to agree through diplomatic means," Syed Hamid said. (*)