Take Misuari back without delay

Take Misuari back without delay

V.K. Chin, The Star, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur

The Philippines should take back Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari and six of his aides now under detention in Malaysia as soon as possible.

Any unnecessary delay could lead to implications in bilateral relations, which have been quite good since the change in administration in Manila.

Malaysia has no intention of keeping Misuari longer than necessary. He and his followers entered the country illegally and are wanted by their government for starting a rebellion.

Manila's attitude is also puzzling. When it announced that Misuari was in Sabah after running away from Philippine forces, Manila had given the impression that Kuala Lumpur was not doing anything to apprehend the Moro leader.

It had almost demanded that Malaysian authorities take immediate steps to arrest the rebel group and hand its members to the Philippine government without any delay. It gave the impression that Kuala Lumpur was trying to keep quiet about Misuari's presence.

Such an allegation could give the wrong picture to the world that Malaysia was harboring a terrorist because of Misuari's close ties with the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group which has been responsible for a serious of kidnappings in the past few months.

Now that Malaysia is ready to deport Misuari and his supporters, Manila is having second thoughts about wanting these rebels back. It is actually dragging its feet and making contradictory statements that will only confuse others.

Its officials even went to the extent of suggesting that Malaysia charge Misuari for illegally entering the country and that Kuala Lumpur should have the first bite before handing over the Moro leader to Manila.

This is indeed an extraordinary statement. Malaysia certainly has no intention of charging Misuari for breaching the immigration laws and would like to see the back of him as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, the co-operation of Manila is necessary to complete the transaction.

With so many illegal immigrants in the country, it will be impossible for the government to take legal action against all of them, as jailing these foreigners would be too costly an exercise to implement.

It is already spending hundreds of million of ringgit putting them in detention centers until arrangements could be finalized for their deportation.

Only those who have committed crimes locally would be charged and sentenced accordingly.

It is therefore quite laughable for Manila to suggest that Malaysia should deal with Misuari first before handing him back to the Philippine authorities.

Manila should, therefore make the necessary arrangements to get back its rebel and deal with him in a Philippine court.

Malaysia has made it quite clear that the problem between the Moro leader and Manila is an internal issue and therefore has no intention of being involved in it.

So it is unfair of Manila to involve Kuala Lumpur or any outside country in a purely domestic security and political problem.