Malaysia's interest in the Bangsamoro peace deal: Regional Effects of this deal

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak came to the Philippines to witness a peace deal forged between his Islamic brothers and sisters with those of their fellow non-Islamic believers. Known to many, Malaysia has been playing an active part in negotiating for peace in the Southern Philippines. Unknown to many, several countries should likewise be thanked for, like the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Libya and Saudi Arabia. These countries worked behind the scenes so that the aspiration of the Bangsamoro to live in a state of being dictated by his own religion Islam is achieved.

However, there are obviously state-related interests here. Malaysia considers the south as something to be managed because of its proximity to the Islamic country. Border security is one. Malaysia has a serious immigration issue. However, last year, Malaysia realized the criticality of resolving the issue of peace when adherents of the Sultan of Sulu came barging into their borders.

If left unattended, Mindanao could have transformed itself into a radical Islamist state which would harm the very security of Malaysia. Through the years, with the fires of Islamist struggle raging, several groups turned the revolutionary struggle into a higher struggle, agreeing to host regional terrorists whose beliefs in the creation of a regional Sultanate surpasses that of the original striving of just creating a Bangsamoro state.

Had the Philippine government failed in this peace deal with the MILF, the possibility of extremism rising is huge. The impact is unimaginable. Think of the effects of more than 12,000 armed men rising simultaneously and occupying territories right and left. That is not just a local security nightmare but a potential serious regional security threat even to neighbours of Mindanao, such as Malaysia.

A peace deal would allow the economic development of Mindanao to proceed in break neck speed. Malaysia is expected to benefit largely from the development of Mindanao. It would develop the regions of Malaysia which lie proximate to the new Bangsamoro state, and the possibility of this state even surpassing the growth of Metro Manila as a center of trade and commerce is big. The Southern trade corridor became undeveloped due to the serious security issues which hamper the free flow of trade. With the huge security threat lifted, it is highly probable that economic development would follow unhampered in that side of the Philippines.

Saudi Arabia, for one, has intimated its desire to invest big in the Bangsamoro state. With Middle Eastern monies flowing in Mindanao, this will create thousands of jobs and trade opportunities in that side of the world.

This explains why this Bangsamoro peace deal is historic and its effects far reaching. This does not just end years of infighting, but will eventually spur development in that region left neglected by political-economic interests based in Manila for decades.

Expect this Bangsamoro state to become a new center of trade and commerce in the BIMP-EAGA region, another potential Islamic center, even better than Singapore. Note that Mindanao has rich natural resources. Note that Mindanao has vast lands underdeveloped. And note that Mindanao has a huge consumer market just waiting for peace to come so that traders of all shapes and sizes would be able to do their businesses uninterrupted.

Malaysian standoff a part of Western-instigated drama?

Malaysia is under extreme attack coming from the West. Shortly after it deported a senior Western diplomat, came this current standoff affecting the Southernmost portion of its territory. This issue can be described as "incendiary", even "destabilizing" because it revives the age-old issue of the Philippine claim to Sabah, or be technical about it, the claims of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo to this huge parcel of land.

Malaysia is a republic which is only united by agreement of various sultans and datus. If, say, a datu who owns a part of Malaysia decides to separate from the republic, it is his choice.

In truth, Sabah does not truly belong to the Malaysians simply because that 77,000 square kilometers of land belong to the Sultan of Sulu by right. Historical records clearly show that it was being "leased" by Malaysia and the Malaysian government still gives cession fees to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.

The complication arises from the GRP-MILF peace agreement. If the GRP-MILF panel includes Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi among the areas within the scope of the agreement, then, it follows that the lands being claimed by the Sultan comes within what the Philippine government claims to own, which, to my mind, complicates the matter further. If the so-called Bangsamoro territory includes these three island groups, then, by rationale, it should likewise include Sabah, since this parcel of land is also, by historic right and title, belongs to the Sultanate.

This agreement will also undermine the very legitimacy of the Sultanate since this presumes that the Sultanate accedes to all the terms and agreements entered into by the GRP with that of the MILF. It appears that the Sultanate is a separate juridical entity; hence, should be consulted to by the GRP especially this issue of delineating or determining the territorial boundaries of the Bangsamoro sub-state. Without their participation, the agreement will definitely encounter tough waters.

Sabah standoff places Malacanang into a itchy bind

There is an ongoing standoff between Malaysian forces and about 100 heavily armed men believed to be militants which came from Tawi-Tawi and Jolo. These militants, who described themselves as members of the Royal Army of the Sultan of Sulu refuses to leave the area. Malaysian officials told these militants to peacefully leave the area to avoid bloodshed. However, the standoff continues, as the gunmen refuse to move out of the vicinity, claming that they have the right to stay there.

INstead of campaigning for his Senatoriables, President Aquino should attend to this matter very carefully because this can make or break the economic momentum of the country. An external problem such as this, and highly explosive at that, should be solved immediately by the President either through back channelling efforts and thru diplomatic means.

Actually, the President cannot do it diplomatically because this is a criminal act according to Malaysian laws. If the President intervenes, and uses the power of the State to negotiate, what would be his bases for doing so? The intrusion of this group into Malaysia does not involve the participation of the State. It was an extra-legal move coming from individuals who claims to have the authority to do such a thing. The group is claiming legitimacy. Malaysia refuses to recognize the validity of the claims of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sabah. While the present heir seems to have gotten legitimacy from numerous groups from Mindanao and beyond.

If someone would ask me if this is the appropriate time to re-claim Sabah, my answer is a definitive no. We should be able to substantiate our claims in the area. Likewise, claiming this side of Malaysia would entail more than physical intrusion. It would mean convincing the population of Sabah to side with us. Those who want Sabah should consider the sentiments of those living in the island of Borneo.

GRP-MILF Framework leads to Bangsamoro Independence

I've seen, lived and covered Mindanao for many years and have friends who are directly involved in the struggle towards an independent Bangsamoro. Frankly, the path taken by the Aquino administration is a bold step towards the right direction. It is bold because it seeks to help our fellow Bangsamoros build their own state without the need for bloodshed. As what Mohaqher Iqbal told news reporters two days ago, he is tired of fighting. He has been fighting for forty years, and he wants to quit in an honorable way. For him, and the rest of the Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), this is the honorable way.

NOT QUITE though for members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the splinter group formed by former MILF commander Umbra Kato. Kato, who happens to be the protege of the late Hashim Salamat, founder and ideological leader of the Bangsamoros, believes in another path. Kato is striving towards independence. 

For many Bangsamoros, independence is really the real solution to many of their problems. Self-government is the key towards their own prosperity as a Muslim nation. Yet, the very concept of independence is being frown upon by several key groups because it is destabilizing. Traditional political groups in the area are benefitting from the status quo, and they would strongly oppose such strivings. 

LIkewise, external foreign forces would not agree on such since their own interests would be affected if a strong Bangsamoro state emerges in the critical South. The South is strategically located within the so-called trade triangle involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Such a state would compete both economically and politically with other Islamic states in the region. Several analysts even think that such a state would resuscitate the age-old claim for the return of the state of Sabah, a thing which Malaysia had a special interest. 

The GRP-MILF Framework for Peace is a necessary plan towards achieving full independence because it prepares the Bangsamoro as a "minority state". A state born from war would encounter a long rehabilitation phase. 

The framework tries to avoid such a scenario since this will also be tasking to the Central Government. 

Let the Bangsamoro state grow organically, from the strivings of the True Servants of Allah SBT Allah. The Bangsamoro needs peace to achieve a good life to all those living in the Promised Land. 

The Legacy of Arroyo in the Peace Process

Press secretary Jesus Dureza said it matter-of-factly--Arroyo daw has laid the building blocks for peace. Yeah. Good soundbite of a lie.

For eight years, Arroyo and her peace panel dilly-dallied in their negotiations with the MILF. Under Arroyo, the peace process went nowhere and eventually had gone haywire. Malaysia entered into the picture to protect its territory Sabah and nearly convinced Arroyo to abandon all talk about reclaiming it as Philippine territory (in fact I remember a conversation Arroyo had with one of her department secretaries saying that he should not pursue the Sabah claim) if they continue brokering the talks.

At the twilight of her term, Arroyo's peace panel worked for the ultimate failure of the talks by acceding to an impossible thing. Members of the panel should have known that it is next to impossible to create the BJE. US pressure had lead to this debacle and now sectors are demanding Arroyo to step down or they would file an impeachment complaint for culpable violation of the charter.

Right now, we are back to square one. Foreign donors, including JICA, have decided to abandon peace initiatives and projects in Mindanao. I dont know about the Institute for Peace, but indications point to that direction also. And yes, we have not heard any gunfire nor mortar rounds nor seen shelling or bombing since an informal ceasefire has been established. Yet, many say that after the Ramadhan, fighting would definitely commence albeit with more intensity than before.

So, what is this legacy that Dureza is talking about? Is this the legacy of causing more war? Is this the legacy of turning the peace process back to square one? Yeah, it seems like it.