MALAYSIA HOPES FOR PHILIPPINE 'AYE' TO SUGGESTION ON TSUNAMI BUOY PLACEMENT

PUTRAJAYA, April 1 (Bernama) -- With a view to having ample time to make
relevant preparations in the event of a tsunami, Malaysia hopes the Philippine
Government would consider a suggestion on the placement of tsunami buoy in the
Sulu Sea.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said the current suggested location
only gave Malaysia about 30 minutes to make preparations, whereas the new
location could give 60 minutes.

"We have indicated a suitable location and hopefully, they could agree with
our suggestion because it would also benefit their country," he told a press
conference here Thursday.

Earlier, newly-appointed Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F.
Del Rosario called on Anifah.

Rosario is on a two-day introductory visit, following his appointment by
President Benigno S. Aquino on Feb 24, this year.

During the meeting with Rosario, Anifah said the Philippine Government
expressed interest to set up a consulate in Sabah to deal with problems faced by
its citizens.

"We explained the reason why they should have the consulate as there was a
large Filipino population in Sabah. They are very keen but they have to take
other factors into consideration," he said.

Both governments had agreed during the Second Malaysia-Philippines Joint
Commission Meeting in 1995 on the opening of the Philippine Consulate-General
in Kota Kinabalu and the Malaysian Consulate-General in Davao City.