The row in Sabah between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian forces earlier this year should serve as a reminder for the Philippines and Malaysia to work more closely together.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduardo Malaya III made this claim as he noted Philippine-Malaysia ties endured despite the row, Malaysia's Bernama news agency reported Tuesday.
But he also said both countries need to further build their ties with more involvement in the business, economic, social and cultural spheres in the future.
“Let us enhance our ties in bilateral relations as well as in our partnership in Asean,” he said at a reception marking Philippine Independence Day.
Representing Malaysia at the reception is Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Representing Malaysia at the reception is Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Malaya also noted the Mindanao peace process, which he said continues despite the Sabah row, may reach a "successful conclusion in a few weeks’ time."
He said the Philippines is "grateful to the adept and fair facilitation by Malaysia” as third-party facilitator in the peace process between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Last February, followers of Kiram went to Sabah and engaged Malaysian forces in a three-week standoff.
The standoff ended in bloody clashes last March 1 and 2. These in turn led Malaysia to mount offensives against Kiram's followers.
Presently, Malaya said at least 38 Filipinos face charges in relation to the Sabah row, though he declined to comment on whether Sultan Kiram would be charged soon.
Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of Sultan Kiram, on Monday revealed a plot to extradite her family, a claim downplayed by Malacañang.
Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur said some 2,000 Filipinos marched along Jalan Bukit Bintang to mark the 115th Philippine Independence Day.
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