PETALING JAYA: The southern Philippines framework peace agreement will be beneficial to Malaysia, especially Sabah, as it could pave the way for peace that would help reduce an influx of illegal immigrants from the troubled region into the state.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the agreement, reached on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), could also allow Malaysia's military to free up more of its resources in order to widen its area of coverage in combating piracy.