REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is an active investor in Indonesia's various industrial sectors, becoming the second-largest investing country after Singapore in 2015, Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Chief Franky Sibarani stated.

"Malaysian investment in Indonesia increased rapidly, registering a growth of 73 percent in 2015 compared to that in the previous year," Franky noted on the sidelines of an Indonesian-Malaysian investment forum here on Friday.

The BKPM chief pointed out that Malaysian investment in 2015 in Indonesia stood at US$ three billion, while its investment commitment in the same period was recorded at $5.5 billion, up 148 percent from that in the previous year.

Franky believes that Malaysia is of importance to Indonesia as Malaysian investors were familiar with the country.

In the meantime, Malaysian Ambassador Zahrain Mohamed Hashim had stated early this month that Malaysia was keen to continue strengthening relations between both nations.

Malaysia could learn from the democracy in Indonesia, he added.

Both sides are interested in increasing trade ties, particularly along their border regions.

Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Zulkikli Hasan said he welcomed the interest shown by both nations to increase trade in their border areas.

"As nations of the same stock, Indonesia and Malaysia should support each other," Hasan noted while receiving Ambassador Hashim at the Parliament building in Jakarta early this month.

Zulkifli said he kept abreast of the political dynamics in Malaysia, expressing hope that the Malaysian people would stay united.

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