Rody, Malaysian PM to tackle piracy, peace process

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte is looking forward to his Nov. 9-10 visit to Malaysia when he is set to discuss with Prime Minister Najib Razak the piracy problem in the Malacca Strait and the Sulu Sea as well as the peace process in Mindanao.

“Yes, we will discuss them because we have to agree on an agenda,” the President told reporters in an ambush interview Tuesday night when he visited the tombs of his parents at the Wireless Public Cemetery here.

The President said Malaysian deputy minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, Malaysian military chief General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Zulkifeli Bin Mohd Zin and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) deputy secretary General Dato’ Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob arrived here on Saturday to meet with him.

The President said the Malaysian officials arrived on a private jet from Kuala Lumpur specifically to discuss the agenda for his state visit next week.

Malaysia is third party facilitator of the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Also on the agenda is the kidnapping problem in Jolo, Sulu which had victimized Malaysians, Indonesians and other foreigners.  

“The time really has come that we have to talk (with Malaysia),” the President added. – With Alexis Romero