Malaysia's Role ‘Indispensable’ To Bangsamoro Peace Process - MILF

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- After decades of facilitating the Bangsamoro peace process, Malaysia remains an indispensable and trusted ‘honest broker’ whose involvement should continue until the process reaches its conclusion, according to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

MILF Peace Implementing Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said Malaysia had earned a high level of trust from both the MILF and the Philippine government through its impartiality and record in facilitating negotiations since 2001.

“Malaysia's facilitation is indispensable. Malaysia is an honest broker, and since 2001, it has shown the way, journeying with the two parties, tackling and overcoming obstacles along the way,” he told a press conference here on Friday.

Iqbal said Malaysia had helped facilitate key agreements between the Philippine government and the MILF, including the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB, signed in 2014, paved the way for the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“So there is no reason why Malaysia should not continue as the facilitating country. It has delivered,” he said.

With its track record and the confidence placed in its impartiality, Malaysia remained an important factor in bringing the peace process to its eventual conclusion with an Exit Agreement, he said.

“I would dare to say that without Malaysia as an honest broker, I don't think we would have reached this far.

“Malaysia has been with the peace process since 2001. And we hope that Malaysia will continue to facilitate these talks until the Exit Agreement,” he said.

The Philippine government and MILF are working towards an Exit Agreement to formally conclude the peace process once all commitments under the CAB have been fulfilled.

Earlier, Iqbal attended a special meeting of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF Peace Implementing Panels on the implementation of the CAB.

The Philippine government delegation was led by Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, while Iqbal headed the MILF delegation.

Malaysia's facilitator in the peace process, General (R) Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, was also present.

-- BERNAMA