The Path to Apostille Convention Membership: Indonesia’s Recommendation for Malaysia
Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Indonesia’s Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, has urged Malaysia to consider becoming a member of the Apostille Convention in order to simplify the public document legalization processes between the two neighboring nations.
This recommendation was made during a meeting with Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform, Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, held in Jakarta on Thursday, May 8. Minister Agtas emphasized the importance of enhancing legal cooperation, noting that due to the close geographical proximity between Indonesia and Malaysia, their citizens frequently interact for both personal and business purposes.
In 2024, the Ministry of Law recorded 6,339 requests for apostille services from Indonesian citizens seeking to have their documents legalized for use in Malaysia. Minister Agtas highlighted that Indonesia’s participation in the Apostille Convention has considerably simplified the document legalization process, including those necessary for Indonesians residing in Malaysia.
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The Apostille Convention, an international treaty, simplifies the process of legalizing public documents between member countries by replacing complex, often lengthy procedures with a single apostille certificate issued by the country of origin. Agtas reiterated that Malaysia’s potential membership in the Apostille Convention would further streamline document legalization and strengthen bilateral legal cooperation.
Beyond the matter of apostille, the two ministers also discussed various legal topics, particularly developments within ASEAN. Minister Agtas shared that Indonesia is in the process of revising Law Number 30 of 1999 concerning Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, aiming to align the law with recent advancements in international legal practices. He expressed interest in gaining insights from Malaysia’s legal framework, particularly in arbitration and dispute resolution, with a focus on the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.
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Minister Agtas also expressed Indonesia’s support for Malaysia’s initiative to introduce arbitration as a key topic at the ASEAN Law Forum (ALF) 2025, which will be held in August, further emphasizing the commitment to enhancing regional legal cooperation and harmonization. (BL/ANTARA)