Under PM Lee and Joko Widodo, ‘Singapore and Indonesia are not just neighbours but friends’

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo has a favourite saying. “He often says we cannot choose our neighbours like we choose our friends,” said Bey Machmudin, a former Indonesian presidential spokesman. “But he found a friend in Lee,” he added, referring to Singapore’s outgoing leader. “Singapore and Indonesia are both good neighbours – and good friends.” That personal friendship...