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Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Malaysia lauds RP for strong anti-terror cooperation
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A senior Malaysian military commander praised the Philippines for its strong anti-terror cooperation that prevented Abu Sayyaf militants from entering Sabah.
The Philippines and Malaysia recently concluded a week-long joint maritime border patrol exercises as part of an annual training to fight terrorism and curb criminality at sea.
Malaysian Army chief Gen Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Zainal said a sound intelligence operation and strong cooperation between the two countries have succeeded in preventing Abu Sayyaf terrorists from getting past the country's border.
"So far, we have been able to check the (Abu Sayyaf) group's movement as our intelligence team has been effective in carrying out their task."
"With solid intelligence, their actions can always be checked and so far we can prevent them from entering (Malaysia)," the Malaysian Bernama News quoted him as saying.
He said the cooperation with the Philippine military enabled the Malaysian armed forces to obtain the latest information on the movement of the Abu Sayyaf.
Malaysia has beefed up its sea and air patrols near the Philippine border where the Abu Sayyaf is actively operating.
The Abu Sayyaf group raided several resorts off Sabah since 2000 and kidnapped dozens of foreigners and Malaysian citizens for ransom.
It also seized about a dozen Indonesian, Malaysian, and Chinese fishermen over the past years near the border with Malaysia.
"The deployment of army personnel and the General Operations Force on several islands in the East Coast of Sabah, besides frequent patrols conducted by the marine and air force teams, also helped in detecting illegal activities in Malaysia, including robbery and kidnapping."
"Therefore, the situation in Sabah right now is safe and under control, and the confidence can be seen through the increase in the number of tourists to the state," Abdul Aziz said.
Aside from Malaysia, the Philippines also holds similar exercises with Indonesia.
"We have a very good relationship with Malaysia and so with Indonesia, and we continue to build strong relations with the two countries to fight terrorism and help each other curb criminality at sea," said Commodore Rufino Lopez, chief of navy in the southern Philippines.
About a dozen ships from both the Philippines and Malaysia were involved in the latest maritime exercises that ended just last week.
Malaysia is also brokering the peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and is a strong ally of the Philippines. (Al Jacinto)
(December 21, 2005 issue)
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