Congress members meet Malaysian PM Mahathir

PHOTO from the Office of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III paid a courtesy call on visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday.

In an interview after the joint courtesy call attended by several senators at the Shangri-La Makati Hotel in Makati City, the Pampanga congresswoman said they cordially discussed Mahathir’s leadership, economic policies and relations with Muslims.

“We were recalling when he was Prime Minister the first time around, and how he truly advocated a distinction between the fundamentalism and the proper interpretation of the Quran,” the former president added.

The Prime Minister is in the Philippines for a three-day official visit. He is set to attend a series of events, including a bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte where matters concerning several areas of mutual cooperation like the economy, trade and investments, and people-to-people exchange, are expected to be tackled, according to Arroyo. /ee

PHOTO from the Office of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo