Kuala Lumpur: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) flew in 50 young Muslim leaders from Sulu on a familiarisation tour of Malaysia.AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, said the young leaders would be taught by Malaysians on how to attain progress and full development in their province.
"Recognising the youth's role in peace and development, the young leaders from Sulu are on a four-day educational tour of Kuala Lumpur from Nov. 23 to 26," he said.
He said most of the young leaders have never had an opportunity to visit other places outside of their province.
"We hope their participation in the educational tour is a big step towards resolving security issues for peace in their home province," Arevalo said.
The tour, he added, was in line with the directive of outgoing AFP Chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya to the Western Mindanao Command to involve Sulu's budding leaders in the activity to motivate them in becoming advocates of peace, harmony and good governance instead of propagating hate.
While in Kuala Lumpur, the Sulu delegates will be calling on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and meet with the Global Movement of Moderate Muslims which rejects all forms of extremism and has been actively calling on Muslim young leaders around the world to promote peace.
"The tour intends to expose the participants, all graduates of the Youth Leadership Summit, to a predominantly Muslim society that is peaceful and progressive, characterised by obedience to the law and authorities by the citizens, and good governance by their leaders," Arevalo said.
