It’s about time Malaysia calls it quits

SO the Malaysian contingent in the International Monitoring Teams is finally calling it quits. The IMTs are multi-national groups tasked to keep an eye on violations of ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government forces. As we know the Malaysians have the biggest number of people in the IMTs but this does not come as a surprise. Malaysia has variegated interest which range from political security. The Sabah issue is far from being resolved and only the mutual concern for regional peace and harmony kept it temporarily archived. On the other hand, Malaysia had seen to it that for its own security the terrorist clones of Al Qaeda are confirmed in the conflict areas in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. It is of great significance therefore that despite its proximity to the Philippines backdoor Malaysia has managed to prescribe entry of terrorist elements in that nary a terror attack was staged within its territory unlike Indonesia and Philippines which had suffered vicious assaults from the terror band.

While the Malaysian IMTs had their stint moving around Mindanao they too actually had the opportunity to feel and assess the pulse of the Bangsamoro People and the strength of the separatist elements. More than the overt issue of peace is the Malaysian interest on Sabah. But historical facts backs the legitimate rights of the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah and this cannot expunged. The Philippine government therefore cannot just abandon the claim of the Sultanate, thus, talks about suggestion for the Philippines to establish a consulate in Sabah to look after Filipinos there is patently superfluous as this would tantamount to abandoning the ancestral claim of the Sultanate.

Factor in the role that Malaysia played during uprising of the Moro National Liberation front when it offered sanctuary and ostensibly military hardware to the rebels and one cannot just dismiss the apprehension that Malaysia, while it brokers peace between the MILF and the government, is not really keen on wrapping up the talks to its successful conclusion.