‘Moderation is the hallmark of all religions’

Prime Minister Najib Razak

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The Framework Agreement is a historic document but it does not solve all the problems. Rather, it sets the parameters in which a lasting peace may be found.

Prime Minister NajibToday is a day of great hope. A day which sees the dawn of a new beginning for the people of Mindanao. A day when we welcome a unified Philippines when out of the darkness comes a new light, albeit with an old name—Bangsamoro.

The Framework Agreement before us will bring to end of violence which claims so many people and cuts short so many futures. It will protect the rights of the Bangsamoro people and preserve the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Philippines. It is the firm crown on which a lasting peace can be built.

Ladies and gentlemen, this agreement exists only because individuals were prepared to raise their eyes and look to a brighter future. So today, we pay tribute to the quiet bravery of negotiations: to the many years and countless hours spent in search of shared understanding. In confronting their differences and finding common ground, both sides have given something; but the people of the Southern Philippines have gained everything. In choosing peace over conflict, and stability over chaos, both sides have stated their belief, not just in universal principles of democracy, justice, and tolerance, but in their application in the service of a greater good.

In years to come, I believe all those involved will look back and see that their hands laid the foundations for an enduring peace. That their willingness to give and to forgive made possible a better future for all.

Ladies and gentlemen, for decades, Malaysia has been home to those who sought refuge from this conflict. Thousands fled in search of safety. Generations have grown up on our shores. Far from the land of their ancestors. It is our abiding hope that the agreement gives them a homeland again. For Mindanao, there can be no more lost generations.

This agreement and the peace it brings will honor those who lost their lives before they saw it signed. We stand here today in tribute to those who cannot. The document we signed today is an expression—an expression of the trust that people have placed in this process. That trust is hard won. It must be protected, and above all, it must be honored.

Only those responsible for conflict can prevent its return. On this day of hope and promise, we must not forget the challenges that remain. The ink on this paper will not save a single life unless it is matched with a true and immovable commitment to peace. If tension arises, it must be met with tolerance. All Parties must stand by the principles on which this agreement rests. Respect for religion, non-violence, and human rights.

Setting parameters

This is not an endpoint, but a beginning. There is much still to be done. The Framework Agreement is a historic document but it does not solve all the problems. Rather, it sets the parameters in which a lasting peace may be found. I hope all sides continue to recognize their responsibilities in the coming months as they work towards the final peace agreement.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a chance to restore dignity to the people of Southern Philippines—those deprived of their humanity by decades of violence. A chance to ensure that the Bangsamoro people will enjoy the dividends of peace which they rightly deserve. And a chance for both sides to prove that peace and moderation are the hallmarks of all religions, and not the preserve of one.

The Koran says that whoever saves a single life then it is as if he has saved all mankind. The news testament says that people should agree with one another and live in peace. In faith, as in life, we share more than we differ. Commitment to common values of peace, respect, and tolerance is more powerful in the face of conflict. To live up to the highest ideals when the greatest pressure is brought to bear is a true test of faith. It is a test that the people here today have passed.

On behalf of the Malaysian government, I would like to commend the extraordinary efforts of both sides who have shown trust, tolerance, and perseverance in reaching this agreement. I want to thank all those who have made a personal contribution to peace. I reserve a special praise for President Aquino, for his strong, unwavering, and resolute commitment to a durable peace in the Southern Philippines.

Malaysia’s appreciation also goes to His Excellency Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of the MILF, for his strong leadership in the peace process and for his personal courage for making that choice over the path of conflict. Our recognition should also be accorded to the lead negotiations and their teams, especially Mr Dean Leonen, Chairman of the Government of the Philippines Negotiating Panel; Mr Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Negotiating Panel; and our very own, Tengku Dato’ Ghafar Tengku Mohammed as the Malaysian facilitator who has been described by President Aquino as an honest broker and those before him, and those currently supporting him from the Prime Minister’s Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I also commend all parties in the International Contact Group—representatives from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and The United Kingdom, from the Centre of Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources, Muhammadiyah, and The Asia Foundation, and the observer from the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.

Last, but by no means least, the very important role played by the Malaysian Armed Forces as part of the International Monitoring Team, starting with the first commander of the Malaysian IMT General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, who was then a one-star General, and now the Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces.

Malaysia’s role

Ladies and gentlemen, Malaysia’s honored to have played a part in today’s agreement. It has been a long and difficult road. I would also like to thank my two predecessors, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Badawi, for initiating and honoring their commitments to the peace process. The past decade has strengthened the bond of trust between our nations.

As we look forward to a new era of stability and prosperity in Southern Philippines, Malaysia is ready to help as a partner for peace. We are willing to offer training and education, so that the children of Bangsamoro can aspire to a future that their parents could not. We are willing to help build institutions so that the society that grows in Bangsamoro is stronger than what went before. We are willing to help in land development so that farmers in Bangsamoro who were formerly freedom fighters can reap the harvest of peace.

So I give my assurance to all the people of the Philippines—we will stand with you to make this agreement work.

Ladies and gentlemen, four years ago, a woman in an evacuation center in Mindanao said, “I was not even married when this conflict began. I was still a young lady when we first had to evacuate. Then, when I had children, we had to evacuate again. Now I have three grandchildren but nothing has changed.”

Today, something has changed. Today, we turn our backs on violence. And turn a step towards a new and brighter future. It is my great hope that this agreement brings about a new time of moderation where the practice of religion and the right to peaceful co-existence are never again in conflict, where people of different faiths live together, united by common values, under a common Constitution.

The agreement we have witnessed today marks the beginning of that era in Southern Philippines. I congratulate all those who have made this possible and I look forward to the final agreement. After four decades, peace is within reach. Let us grasp with both hands and never let go. – Rappler.com

(Prime Minister Najib delivered this speech during the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Aquino government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on October 15 in Malacañang.)

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