Malaysia Hopes Peace Process In Mindanao To Run Smoothly To Ensure Regional Peace

BATU PAHAT (Johor, Malaysia), Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes that the peace process in Mindanao of the Philippines will run smoothly with the passing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law by the Philippine Senate next month to help preserve regional peace and stability. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said this while expressing concern over the possibility that the chaos and instability in Mindanao could spread into the ASEAN region should the process of passing the law was interrupted. "I'm worried that if by October it is not approved, it may spark off something that we cannot control. This is just being pro-active. "The Bangsamoro Basic Law must be passed by the Philippine Senate and I am confident that under the leadership of President Aquino, there is a political will for that. "It's just the matter whether this law will be passed in October (or not), it may be the last chance for us to find a solution or peace and reconciliation in Mindanao," he told reporters here Thursday. When asked if Malaysia was prepared to face any possible threats to national security, he pointed out that the government had made such preparations to face all possible threats, especially in east Malaysian state, Sabah. Last June, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said that since the law would play a vital role in giving recognition to the Bangsamoro political entity, the approval should be expedited. Malaysia's role was considered instrumental role in facilitating peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the biggest rebel group in the Philippines, since 2001. Both parties signed the peace agreement on March 27, 2014. --BERNAMA