Aquino flying to KL Feb. 27 for state visit

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino will fly to Malaysia on Feb. 27 for a two-day state visit on the invitation of the Malaysian king and the prime minister, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.

Aquino will be welcomed by Tuanku Abdul Halim, Malaysia’s king (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) or head of state, who will host a state banquet for the President.

Aquino will meet with Prime Minister Najib Razak and they are expected to discuss the coming signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, as well as matters of mutual concern between the Philippines and Malaysia, including political, economic and defense cooperation, the DFA said in a statement.

The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Annex on Normalization, the last of the four annexes of the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Jan. 25.

Malaysia has hosted and facilitated the GPH-MILF peace talks since 2001 in Kuala Lumpur.

Aquino will also keynote a Business Opportunities Forum with the Malaysian business community, where he is expected to highlight the Philippines’ positive economic growth and invite them to invest in the country, particularly in Mindanao. He will also hold meetings with Malaysian businessmen and corporation heads.

The President will meet with the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur, and encourage them to promote Philippine interests and help raise the country’s profile as resilient and a viable investment and tourism destination.

This will be Aquino’s first visit to Malaysia. Najib visited the Philippines in October 2012, upon the invitation of the President, to witness the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Not all is well between the two countries, however. Sabah remains a sore point.

In February last year, the state of Sabah in Malaysia was invaded by armed fighters of the Sultanate of Sulu to enforce the latter’s claim to the land. At least 68 people were reported killed in the four-month standoff with Malaysian security forces that ensued.

The Philippines, whose claim to Sabah remains dormant, denounced the attacks.

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