REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) would step up its guard on the border with Sabah to prevent conflicts in the Malaysian state to spread into the country, Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.

"The location of the conflict in Sabah is around 150 kilometers from the Indonesian territory. The measure is taken to anticipate against possible spillovers," he said after the opening of the Jakarta International Defense Dialog (JIDD) 2013 on Wednesday.

He said that coordination had been carried out with the TNI headquarters. "We have strengthened our forces to prevent possible spillovers," he said.

He hoped Malaysian and the Philippines could settle the conflict in Sabah through diplomatic channels. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa will meet his counterpart from the Philippines on Friday to discuss the conflict.

He said he would also meet with Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also attended the JIDD, to discuss the problem. Yusgiantoro  said he hoped through the JIDD forum border conflicts could be overcome diplomatically.

"Diplomacy is a good way for anticipating tension that may happen in the relations among neighbors over border problems," he said.

He said Indonesia`s border problems with neighbors such as Malaysia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea have never led to hard power to escalate conflicts. "The border problems could always be overcome well," he added. 

An armed conflict had occurred in Sabah after the Sulu Sultanate laid claim to the region. The UN as well as Philippine President Benigno Aquino have all stated that dialog would be the best way for settling the problem.

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