Najib-Duterte meeting to highlight anti-terror efforts

Malaysia will get a taste of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s brand of diplomacy when he arrives on a two-day state visit beginning Wednesday.

The tough-talking ex-mayor of Davao City has taken the fight to drug users and criminals in his country to a new high since assuming office on June 30, with his renewed support for their extra-judicial killings raising eyebrows around the world.

Nicknamed “The Punisher”, the 71-year-old will not be expected to mince his words here when he turns to the common enemy of both countries – the ruthless Abu Sayyaf militant group that has allied itself to the Islamic State.

Security issues will be high on the agenda, with bilateral talks to cover the multinational effort to counter piracy in the Straits of Malacca and the kidnapping-cum-terror activities of the Abu Sayyaf, which is based in and around Jolo and Basilan islands in southwestern Philip­pines.

“We have a lot to talk about piracy, kidnapping and criminality in the Malacca Strait.

“It’s very important that Malaysia, Indone­sia and the Philippines talk about these and come up with solutions once and for all,” Duterte said in Manila.

Having already discussed a unified policing effort with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the Philippine leader will be eager to consult Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.