18 November 2004 – Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, recently departed the country after visiting Cotabato City on 16 November 2004, to participate in the Eid-ul Fitr celebration with the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The Malaysian official was accompanied by 22 military officers led by General Tan Seri Dato Mohd Zahidi bin Haji Zainuddin, Chief of Defense Forces.

While the visit was informal and did not partake the nature of an official visit, Vice President Noli De Castro and some Cabinet officials were present to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister.

During the visit, the members of the IMT led by Major General Zulkifeli bin Mohd Al Zin thanked the Deputy Prime Minister saying that the visit strengthened the IMT’s resolve to fulfill their task of monitoring the ceasefire between the GRP and the MILF.   Major General Zulkifeli added that  the Malaysian and Brunei contingents were deeply touched by the DPM’s visit and said that his presence at Cotabato was testimony to the cordial relations between Malaysia and the Philippines.

In his welcoming remarks, DPM Najib expressed his deep gratitude to the Philippine government for the excellent arrangements and high-level welcoming team led by the Vice-President.   He also thanked the MILF for their welcome.

DPM Najib said that he came to Cotabato for two reasons: first, to fulfill his promise to the Malaysian contingent of spending Hariraya with them, and second, to emphasize the commitment of his government in supporting the achievement of peace and stability in Mindanao.  He believed that bringing about peace in the Southern Philippines would contribute to the long-term goal of a peaceful and developed region in ASEAN.   He also remarked that the fact that there were no reports of encounters between the government and the MILF troops showed that both sides were sincere in pursuing the ceasefire and the peace agreement between them.   The DPM also thanked the MILF for their cooperation and for being partner in peace.

Towards the end of the welcoming program, there was and exchange of Eid gifts between DPM Najib and Vice-President De Castro, the people of Cotabato and the MILF.

The Malaysian official and his contingent left that same day. - END