NAKASUNDO sina Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim na gumamit ng bagong diskarte sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ayon kay Anwar maaaring dalhin ang isyu sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) upang magkaroon ng resolusyon na magiging katanggap-tanggap sa lahat.

“We did discuss the South China issue and I shared President Marcos Jr.’s concern that due to the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, we should try and engage and take the position at a multilateral level between ASEAN so that we have a comprehensive approach and achieve an amicable resolution to this outstanding problem,” sabi ni Anwar kasunod ng pag-uusap nila ni Pangulong Marcos.

Ang Pilipinas at Malaysia ay kapwa mayroong inaangking bahagi ng South China Sea.

Ayon kay Anwar nabanggit din ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga Pilipino na nakakulong sa Malaysia at pag-uusapan umano ng dalawang gobyerno ang repatriation ng mga ito.

“I have asked the Philippines’ assistance and cooperation to expedite the commutation of nationals so that they can be repatriated to the Philippines in a timely manner. And I am pleased that — their willingness to facilitate this arrangement in a mutually agreed fashion,” sabi pa ng Malaysia PM.

Napag-usapan din umano ang pagpapalakas ng kooperasyon sa pagitan ng Brunei Darussalam- Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Sinabi ni Anwar na ang Malaysia ay magiging masaya sa pagpapalakas ng ugnayan nito sa Pilipinas.

“Our bilateral cooperation is multisectoral covering trade and investment, education, health, agriculture, health, tourism and culture,” dagdag pa ni Anwar.