The Indonesian foreign ministry expressed disappointment Tuesday as Australia dropped the contentious migration bill on tough border protection against immigrants.

"If the information is valid, the Indonesian government will be deeply regretful to Australian government's failure in imposing a new law on asylum seekers it has promised earlier this year," the ministry's spokesman Desra Percaya was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying.

The ministry has learned the scrapping of the bill from the media, he said.

Howard's decision to withdraw the bill due to opposition from the parliament was the internal affairs of Australia, Desra said.

Asked if the decision would potentially disturb the Indonesian- Australian bilateral ties, Desra said "it's too early to say ' yes'. But of course it would bring effects."

Indonesia was angered by Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to all but one 42 asylum seekers from Papua province in March. Jakarta recalled its ambassador in Canberra in protest, but the envoy has recently returned to office.

Following the visa outrage, Australian Prime Minister John Howard proposed a bill on tougher border protection against illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

Source: Xinhua