Marcos, Shah to work toward post-COVID-19 recovery

KUALA LUMPUR – President Marcos met with Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah here on Wednesday, committing to closely work together toward post-pandemic recovery.

The President was accorded a state welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, upon his arrival at Istana Negara (National Palace), the official residence of Malaysia’s monarch.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos were personally welcomed by the King and Queen Azizah and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

In a speech during his meeting with Malaysia’s king, Marcos cited the importance of reinvigorating partnership between the two Southeast Asian nations as they gear toward post-pandemic recovery.

“I believe that it is the way for us to refocus our efforts together on mutually beneficial initiatives for our two countries and to see how we can help one another as we face the post-pandemic future,” Marcos said.

The President said their memberships in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area continue to strengthen their relationship.

Marcos and his delegation arrived here on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day state visit upon the king’s invitation.

Among those who joined the President’s delegation were Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators JV Ejercito and Mark Villar, presidential son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil.

In a speech during his meeting with the Filipino community at the EQ Hotel on Tuesday night, Marcos described Malaysia’s monarch as a “long time” friend of the Philippines.

“The Royal Family of – the present Agong has been friends of the Philippines for a very long time,” the President said.

In an article posted by Malaysian news agency Bernama, Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope that the warm relations enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines would continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of their peoples and nations.

He also called the Philippines an important partner to Malaysia, given its close proximity and active involvement in ASEAN.

The king said both countries must continue to work closely in promoting the region’s stability, security and in making ASEAN a dynamic regional organization.

“Shared peace and progress can only be achieved and maintained through stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole,” Al-Sultan Abdullah was quoted by Bernama as saying.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Vietnam and China have overlapping claims over the South China Sea, which is believed to hold large reserves of oil and natural gas. ?Marcos is set to meet with Malaysian business leaders today before flying back to Manila.

Meanwhile, President Marcos renewed on Tuesday his commitment to extend assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), thanking them for giving the Philippines a very good image in the international stage.

“The whole world looks up to us because of what you did,” Marcos said in his speech before hundreds of Filipinos at the EQ Hotel here.

Marcos’ plane touched down at Bunga Raya Complex Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 4:51 p.m.

Marcos, in his speech, thanked the Filipinos for their support in the May 2022 elections.

He reiterated his promise to give the OFWs and their families better lives.

“While you are working hard here, we’ll do our best to help you,” Marcos said.

There are an estimated 321,593 documented Filipinos in Malaysia.

Soriano on leave

In another development, presidential adviser on creative communications Paul Soriano is on leave due to personal matters, according to Garafil.

Soriano’s wife, TV/movie celebrity Toni Gonzaga, is pregnant with their second child.

Garafil said Soriano filed his leave of absence before the second State of the Nation Address of the Chief Executive on July 24.

Soriano was the one in charge of the live broadcast of certain Marcos’ special events as well official trips abroad.

Malacañang’s in-house coverage team, Radio Television Malacañang, handled the broadcast of this year’s SONA.

In May, Soriano was criticized over the controversial “We Give the World Our Best” Philippine ad campaign on a double-decker bus in London that featured Filipino-British nurse May Parsons holding a syringe.

Marcos stood as godfather at the Soriano couple’s wedding.