Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last night sent word to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assuring her of Malaysia’s full support to the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Malaysian leader’s message was delivered by Datu Othman Bin Abdul Razak of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office in a meeting with the President in Malacañang last night.

Badawi told the President that Kuala Lumpur would not only host and facilitate the peace talks, but would also deploy an International Monitoring Team (IMT) to observe the current ceasefire and development projects in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Datu Othman informed the President that a nine-man administrative group of the IMT would arrive in Manila from Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Sept. 10) to lay the groundwork for the full deployment of the IMT next month.

He also confirmed that Brunei has agreed to contribute 10 members to the IMT.

The President is slated to meet the Brunei contingent during her trip to Brunei Darussalam tomorrow (Thursday) to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah.

Secretary Silvestre Afable, who accompanied Datu Othman to Malacañang, said another round of talks is being scheduled at about the same time the IMT will be deployed.