Sabah Issue

The armed intrusion into Sabah by Sulu terrorists is a blow to the progress of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), says BIMP-EAGA Malaysia Business Council chairman Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed. Expressing sound dismay over the incident, he called on BIMP-EAGA member countries to go fanny to the original status quo, focusing to a greater extent on accelerating economic instruction in the four countries in a safe and conducive manner.Quoting the age-old saying we cannot negotiate if you are pointing a gun at me, Roselan tell that it was true in the context of the sub-regional grouping, which was launched in 1994. We must all abdicate and go back to the drawing board, rethink and revisit our schema and go back to the negotiating table, he told Bernama.Roselan was commenting on the recent statement by motive Philippines President Fidel Ramos with regard to the standoff in Lahad Datu in the east slideway of Sabah, that the B IMP-EAGA should be revived by the countries concerned as the grouping was the constitute to improve the peoples conditions in south Philippines, Borneo Island and adjacent areas. The BIMP-EAGA is the win-win strategy if we are looking from the perspective of a better, more prosperous, more peaceful, more harmonious and more sustainable future for all peoples, Ramos was quoted as saying.Ramos state the potentials of the BIMP-EAGA were so great that even foreign local governments such as Australias Northern Territory and Western Australia states had joined the grouping as associates. Ramos said that during his administration, he tried to set up a dope that would develop the BIMP-EAGA sub-region. The company is to be jointly run by Malaysia, the Sulu Sultanates heirs and private sector partners.The companys revenue can deputize the annual RM5,300 as the rent to the sultanates heirs, Ramos said. In this respect, Roselan acknowledged Ramos post in the establisment of BIMP-EAGA, sayin g that the Former Philippines President was both vocal and refreshing when he initiated the BIMP-EAGA concept together with Malaysias former Prime minister of religion Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.