KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — After decades of facilitating the Bangsamoro peace process, Malaysia remains an indispensable and trusted ‘honest broker’ whose involvement should continue until the process concludes, according to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Its Peace Implementing Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said Malaysia has earned a high level of trust from both the MILF and the Philippine government through its impartiality and record of 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 said during a media conference today.
Iqbal added that Malaysia 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.
“I would dare to say that without Malaysia as an honest broker, I do not 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,” Iqbal 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 Philippine government and MILF Peace Implementing Panels on implementing the CAB.
The Philippine delegation was led by Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, while Iqbal headed the MILF delegation.
Malaysia's peace process facilitator General (R) Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin was also present.
