President Ferdinand Marcos stands with Sultan Abdullah of Malaysia outside the royal Istana Negara along with (from left) Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, first lady Liza Marcos, Queen Azizah Aminah, and Anwar’s physician-wife Wan Azizah. (REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — The close personal ties established by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Malaysia’s leaders will boost the Philippines’ economic partnership with its Southeast Asian neighbor, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“The warm welcome accorded to President Marcos by King Abdullah and Prime Minister Anwar augurs well for the expansion of economic and trade partnership, as well as in further strengthening our friendly relations with our fellow ASEAN partner Malaysia,” Romualdez said.
The House Speaker was one of the officials who accompanied Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to the Istana Negara — Malaysia’s National Palace — where the president was given a state welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute.
Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah, along with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, headed the delegation that welcomed Marcos on his three-day visit.
Romualdez assured Marcos that the House would be willing to consider more bills that would improve the partnership between the Philippines and Malaysia.
“On the part of the House of Representatives, we are open to considering possible measures that would help enhance the partnership that would redound to the mutual benefit of the peoples of the Philippines and Malaysia,” he said.
Romualdez cited that House Bill No. 7118 which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9997 or the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009 to promote local Halal enterprises and product development may be a good point of agreement between the two countries.
Marcos is in Kuala Lumpur upon the invitation of the Malaysian government.
Earlier, Marcos said the Philippines and Malaysia would organize a Joint Commission Meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest.