Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei agree to joint patrols in border areas
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-12 09:31

The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have agreed to regularly hold joint patrols in border areas frequently hit with attacks by kidnappers and Islamic militants, Philippine officials said.

The joint patrols were proposed by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during a meeting with her counterparts from the other three countries in Kuala Lumpur before a regional summit, Philippine presidential adviser Jesus Dureza said.

The four countries are concerned that the instability in the areas centered around Sulawesi Sea is scaring away investors, hampering economic growth.

"These incidents are isolated but it creates a stigma on the region," Ahmad Ali, chairman of a group of chambers of commerce from that area, told The Associated Press. "This deters investors from going in."

Dureza said Arroyo proposed "that joint patrols in the neighborhood" be conducted regularly and not be limited to military exercises, as is being done now. It will be a "continuing security patrol in the sub-region," he quoted Arroyo as saying.

"This was welcomed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The details would be worked out by protocols," Dureza said.

Later, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he and the three other leaders agreed to ensure the area becomes one "of peace and stability."

"If we want to see economic development, and we hope to see investments coming to the area of course, there must be some assurance, guarantee of security," he told reporters.

The proposed area for patrols forms a rough circle around the Sulawesi Sea. It comprises all of Brunei; Malaysia's Sabah and Sarawak states and its federal territory of Labuan; Indonesia's Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya and Kalimantan; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

Dureza said the leaders expressed concern about "transnational criminals and terrorists" in the area.

Sabah in particular has been hit by numerous kidnappings in recent years, blamed on the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group which operates in Mindanao in the Philippines.

In 2000, Abu Sayyaf guerrillas seized 21 people including Western tourists from a resort on Sipadan island in Sabah, a world-renowned dive site. Southern Philippines also is the base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a militant group fighting for self rule.

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi also faces the threat of militants. Maluku and central Sulawesi witnessed deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians between 1999 and 2001.

The leaders also agreed to boost transportation links to address the area's inadequate infrastructure _ the other reason for low investment, Dureza said.