Malaysian exec: Foreign ministry may decide on PHL request for deadline extension

Published February 23, 2013 2:50pm

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry may decide on whether to accommodate the Philippines' request to extend until Tuesday the deadline Malaysia gave to a group of armed Filipinos to withdraw peacefully from Sabah.

Home Ministry head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he will leave to the Foreign Ministry the request made by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

A report on Malaysia's The Star online quoted Hishammuddin as saying he had been notified about the matter from the Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

"The country's sovereignty and the pride of the people of Sabah must not be taken for granted," Hishammudin told The Star news site.

On the other hand, he said his ministry will leave to police to conduct the needed operations to end the standoff.

The Filipinos, who claim to be followers of the Sultan of Sulu, had arrived in Sabah last week.

Earlier, Malaysian security forces have adopted a cautious wait-and-see stance on the standoff.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin maintained the government is doing everything possible to work out a peaceful solution. - VVP, GMA News

Tags: sabah, malaysia