Malaysia will deport detained Philippine Muslim leader Nur Misuari and not charge him with illegal entry, Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in remarks published Sunday.
Abdullah, who is also home minister in charge of police, was quoted by the Sunday Star as saying Malaysia had to hand Misuari over to Manila as the two countries were part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"If he is kept in Malaysia, we will be accused of harbouring him or even meddling in the internal affairs of the Philippines," he said.
"The Philippine government wants him. We will send him back."
Abdullah, who is on a visit to Sabah state, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying Sunday that the government had not yet decided when to return Misuari to the Philippines.
"The timing is not set yet," he said.
Asked if Misuari would be charged in court for illegal entry, he said: "We will see. It may not be necessary since we are going to send him back."
Misuari and six of his followers were arrested before dawn Saturday on Jampiras island off Sabah for entering Malaysia illegally via Jolo island in the southern Philippines.
Jampiras is the island closest to the Philippine-Malaysia international boundary and about 30 minutes by boat from the Sabah town of Sandakan.
A spokesman at the federal police headquarters told AFP that the group was being held in Sabah, north of Borneo island, but declined to give details.
"They are still under custody. There is no new development at the moment," the spokesman said.
Malaysia's police chief Norian Mai said Saturday plans were being made to deport Misuari to avert any threats to national security.
Norian identified one of the men arrested as Abdul Harris, a senior aide who headed the Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF) Islamic supreme court.
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo said Sunday she would rather see Misuari remain in jail in Malaysia pending a trial than be returned to the Philippines
Some 600 armed followers of Misuari attacked military outposts in Jolo last week in an apparent bid to disrupt elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao set for Monday.
Misuari has been governor of the region since 1996, when his MNLF signed a peace deal with Manila.
But his rule has been marred by allegations of corruption, and Arroyo has declared her support to a candidate within a rival faction – Kuala Lumpur (AFP)
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