Maliban sa pagpapatibay ng bilateral relations ng Pilipinas at Malaysia, sumentro rin umano sa naging usapan nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ang kooperasyon sa usapin ng seguridad lalo sa paglaban sa terorismo, pamimirata o priracy at iba pang transnational crimes.
Sa kanilang joint statement, sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na kabilang din sa natalakay nila ni Mahathir ang paglaban sa illegal drugs trade na isa sa pangunahin at kontrobersyal na kampanya ng pangulo sa bansa.
“We resolved to ramp up cooperation to address security issues, particularly on terrorism, piracy and transnational crimes, including the fight against the illegal drug trade. We resolved to address security issues. We touched on our extensive economic cooperation. We shared the view that its further expansion serves our mutual interests as that of ASEAN and our region,” ani Pangulong Duterte.
Ayon pa kay Pangulong Duterte, binigyang-diin nila ni Prime Minister Mahathir ang kahalagahan ng pagpapanatili at pagsusulong ng kapayapaan, katatagan, seguridad, kaligtasan, freedom of navigation at overflight sa South China Sea.
Nagkasundo rin umano ang dalawang lider na dapat daanin sa payapang resolusyon ang mga agawan sa teritoryo sa nasabing karagatan, kung saan hindi hahantong sa paggamit ng pagbabanta o anumang pwersa, bagkus alinsunod sa itinatakda ng international law.
“We emphasized the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight over the South China Sea, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. This is, without resort to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law,” dagdag ni Pangulong Duterte.
Sa panig naman ni Prime Minister Mahathir, tiniyak nito ang kahandaan ng Malaysia na manatiling partner sa pag-unlad ng Mindanao.
Inihayag ni Mahathir na sa pagkakatatag ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in MUslim Mindanao (BARRM) kasunod ng ratipikasyon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), dapat pang palawakin ng Pilipinas at Malaysia ang ugnayang pangkalakalan.
Maipabatid na malaki ang naging papel ng Malaysian government sa pagkakatatag na BARMM dahil tumayo itong third party facilitator sa peace talks ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas at Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“Given the vast economic potential of this area, I believe with the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, we have to boost economic ties between both countries. I therefore assured Mr. President of Malaysia’s desire to continue to be of help in the development of Mindanao. I congratulated President Duterte on the success of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the appointment of members into the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. I look forward to the smooth transition of the ARMM through the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao,” ani Prime Minister Mahathir.
