ID :
137157
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 15:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/137157
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA HOPES PHILIPPINE NEW GOVT AND MILF GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
COTABATO CITY, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes the Philippines and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will speed up the peace process to success, for
Mindanao to enjoy socio-economic prosperity after years of bloody conflict.
Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said without interfering
in the Philippines' internal affairs, the involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces
(MAF) as the international monitoring team (IMT) in Mindanao since Dec 9, 2004, was
seen as also helping the peace process.
"The MAF's role is not limited to monitoring the peace process as it is also
involved in social work to assist the local residents," he told Malaysian
journalists after handing over humanitarian aid from Malaysia to the local
community.
A large portion of the aid is in the form of dry foodstuff to be distributed to
residents in conjunction with Ramadan.
Ahmad Zahid said based on his meetings with the parties involved, the Philippine
government and MILF appeared to be committed to the peace process.
"Malaysia hopes the Philippine government will take the approach that the
problem in Mindanao cannot be solved militarily but also through economic
development programmes," he added.
Earlier, in his one-day visit here, Ahmad Zahid was briefed on the MAF's
operations in Mindanao by the head of the IMT force, Major General Baharum
Hamzah.
The MAF's involvement as the IMT is to monitor the ceasefire and peace agreement
between the Philippine government and MILF which was signed on June 22, 2001.
Ahmad Zahid then met with MILF chairman Murat Ebrahem.
"As a country involved in the peace process, we need to listen to the views of
both sides. Yesterday, I met with Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire T.
Gazmin in Manila," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the peace process was important as it would also have an impact
on security in the waters bordering the Philippines and Malaysia.
"When the peace process is successful, less people will flee to Malaysia and
there'll no longer be security threats at the Philippines-Malaysia maritime
border.
"And I believe that Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit Mindanao again if the
situation here is no longer volatile.
"The prime minister visited Mindanao 10 years ago when he was defence minister,"
he noted.
Also accompanying Ahmad Zahid on his visit was Malaysian ambassador to the
Philippines Dr Ibrahim Saad.
-- BERNAMA
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will speed up the peace process to success, for
Mindanao to enjoy socio-economic prosperity after years of bloody conflict.
Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said without interfering
in the Philippines' internal affairs, the involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces
(MAF) as the international monitoring team (IMT) in Mindanao since Dec 9, 2004, was
seen as also helping the peace process.
"The MAF's role is not limited to monitoring the peace process as it is also
involved in social work to assist the local residents," he told Malaysian
journalists after handing over humanitarian aid from Malaysia to the local
community.
A large portion of the aid is in the form of dry foodstuff to be distributed to
residents in conjunction with Ramadan.
Ahmad Zahid said based on his meetings with the parties involved, the Philippine
government and MILF appeared to be committed to the peace process.
"Malaysia hopes the Philippine government will take the approach that the
problem in Mindanao cannot be solved militarily but also through economic
development programmes," he added.
Earlier, in his one-day visit here, Ahmad Zahid was briefed on the MAF's
operations in Mindanao by the head of the IMT force, Major General Baharum
Hamzah.
The MAF's involvement as the IMT is to monitor the ceasefire and peace agreement
between the Philippine government and MILF which was signed on June 22, 2001.
Ahmad Zahid then met with MILF chairman Murat Ebrahem.
"As a country involved in the peace process, we need to listen to the views of
both sides. Yesterday, I met with Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire T.
Gazmin in Manila," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the peace process was important as it would also have an impact
on security in the waters bordering the Philippines and Malaysia.
"When the peace process is successful, less people will flee to Malaysia and
there'll no longer be security threats at the Philippines-Malaysia maritime
border.
"And I believe that Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit Mindanao again if the
situation here is no longer volatile.
"The prime minister visited Mindanao 10 years ago when he was defence minister,"
he noted.
Also accompanying Ahmad Zahid on his visit was Malaysian ambassador to the
Philippines Dr Ibrahim Saad.
-- BERNAMA
