Malaysian PM arrives in PHL for 2-day visit

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday night for a two-day official visit.

According to Katrina Son's report in GMA News TV's State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, Mahathir and his spouse, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, landed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City around 7 p.m.

They were welcomed by Department of Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. and Philippine government officials.

Prime Minister Mahathir and President Rodrigo Duterte are set to hold a bilateral meeting in Malacañang on Thursday where they are expected to discuss "cooperation in the political, economic and people-to-people spheres."

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo added that the two leaders could also possibly discuss the Philippines' claims over Sabah.

Mahathir will also meet with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This is the first time that Mahathir will visit the Philippines after he regained his position as Malaysian Prime Minister in 2018.

He held the same post from 1981 to 2003, making him the longest-serving prime minister of Malaysia.

At 93, Mahathir was also the world's oldest national leader.

Mahathir and Duterte had last met when the latter watched the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight in Kuala Lumpur last July. — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News