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Jakartan (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohammad Najib Tun Razak here Monday exchanged governmental experience in bearing the financial burdens arising from the global oil price hikes.

In a talk with Najib who was paying a courtesy call, Yudhoyono explained the policy of cutting its fuel oil subsidy the Indonesian government was compelled to adopt as a consequence of the continuous surge in the world crude price.

"The problems Malaysia and Indonesia now face are very similar," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said following Yudhoyono`s meeting with Najib.

Dino said at the meeting with the Malaysian deputy prime minister, the president also spoke about the social security program the Indonesian government had launched for the country`s poor people following its decision to raise domestic fuel oil prices.

On the occasion, President Yudhoyono also called on countries in Southeast Asia to make every possible effort to maintain food stability in the region in connection with the soaring rice price.

The Malaysian deputy prime minister is in Indonesia to witness the signing of a merger agreement between Niaga Bank and Lippo Bank in which Malaysia`s Khazanah Holding has a majority stake.

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