WE MUST TELL OUR GOVERNMENT THAT MALAYSIA IS NOT OUR FRIEND
By Anne de Bretagne
Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
Defenders of Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
26 March 2012
One of the reasons, we were told why the Philippines is not too keen about raising the Sabah claim with Malaysia is that it would be for naught because our Muslim brothers will not side with the Philippine Republic against Malaysia on the strength of the belief that Muslims will not fight Muslims. This is utter hypocrisy (or worse, of total ignorance.) The truth is Muslims have been at each other's throats in Southern Philippines, hence, Muslims do fight Muslims (just as Christians fight Christians)!!!
Read for yourself: MNLF, MILF forces nagsagupaan! Sunday, March 25, 2012 03:09:13 PM http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20120325030913
If only our Government were not too busy trying to appease Malaysia in the guise of placating the MILF (kuno), they would see that it would do our own Muslim population in Southern Philippines a greater deal of good by brokering a peace treaty between two warring (and rebel) groups, i.e., MNLF and MILF. Brokering peace between the two could just be more beneficial to the Republic than peacenicking with Malaysia.
Does our Government really believe that appeasing Malaysia while the spectre of Sabah is alive will guarantee peace in Mindanao? Not a chance -- not on Dean Marvic Leonen's life!!!
Whereas brokering peace between two formidable Muslim groups who are Filipinos (whether they like it or not, MILF, MNLF, etc., they travel with Philippine passports so they are Filipinos) with Sabah in perspective can very well work for the Republic. So why continue to fool ourselves that peace will be achieved in Mindanao with the MILF separatist group on the mere say so of Malaysia?
Our Government has to be bold -- must take off their blinders once and for all: for as long as the Sabah issue has not been settled, Malaysia will do everything in its power to stir trouble in the South so that the Republic won't have the material time to claim Sabah.
The best thing to do is to take these warring Filipino Muslims on side, dangle the Sabah claim before their eyes and encourage them to look at things from a different angle, i.e., the spectre of a common national enemy who has been at the forefront of our Mindanao troubles since the early 1970s. The Filipino nation is not the enemy of the Muslims of Mindanao BUT the Malaysians are.
The young ones must be reminded that Malaysia supported, encouraged and funded the MNLF (from whose ranks the MILF sprung) to fight a secessionist movement against the Philippine Republic.
Has our government forgotten that no less than the former prime ministers of Malaysia (with Mahathir being the quintessential thinker later on) had been the de facto architect of the Muslim war against the Philippines and that their successors today have continued their vision? That Najib Razak, current Malaysia Prime Minister and son of Tunku Abdul Razak (former Malaysia PM himself and an enemy of the Philippines personified) will continue that legacy of destruction of Muslim Mindanao?
Our government must wake up: Either the Republic finally gives up Sabah formally and legally or it must accept that Malaysia is not our friend. But our Government cannot be so blind, cannot continue spending resources that we have little of, continue antagonising the growing generation of Muslim Filipinos and believe that Malaysia is a friend! Bullocks! Malaysia is and can never be a friend -- not for as long as we stake our claim over Sabah. Malaysia is not a friend, well... NOT UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THAT A FRIEND WISHES YOUR DEATH!
mindanaoexaminer.com
COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 25, 2012) Sumiklab na naman ang sigalot sa pagitan ng magkaaway na lider ng Moro National Liberation Front at Moro Islamic Liberation Front sa North Cotabato sa magulong rehiyon ng Mindanao. Matagal ng may alitan sina Commander Teo ng MNLF at Commander Kari…
"Nations do not have friends, only interest." I couldn't agree with you more on making a decision whether to give up Sabah formally or take a stand and assert our right. The Philippines must take a stand sooner better than later. This conflict has been going on for almost fifty years and it is not fair to let our future generations take on the problem created by our leaders in the past. The current situation has caused a lot of senseless deaths and misery among the living who are displaced because of war. While it's good that our government is working on a peace process, it is counterproductive if GRP does not recognize that Malaysia is in it not for peace but to protect its interest!
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