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.