CROWD AT AIRPORT; AIRCRAFT TAXIES; WELCOME BANNER; TUNKU GREETED; TUNKU REVIEWS POLICE GUARD; COFFIN AFLAME; MOTORCADE AWAY.




Initials JH/VS/CCT/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ABOUT 2,000 SABAHANS WERE ON HAND AT THE AIRPORT AT KOTA KINABALU LAST TUESDAY (1 OCTOBER) TO WELCOME MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN WHO WAS VISITING THE STATE TO STRENGTHEN ITS TIES WITH THE REST OF MALAYSIA.

THE PRIME MINISTER WAS OFFICIALLY WELCOMED BY SABAH'S CHIEF MINISTER, TUN MUSTAPHA.

THE PRIME MINISTER IS ON A THREE-DAY TOUR OF SABAH FOLLOWING THE DETERIORATION OF RELATIONS WITH THE PHILIPPINES AS A RESULT OF THE MANILA GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM TO THE REGION.

THE TUNKU PRAISED THE CROWD FOR ITS PLEDGE OF LOYALTY AND ITS READINESS TO DEFEND SABAH AND MALAYSIA IN THE EVENT OF WAR WITH THE PHILIPPINES.

A BLACK COFFIN DEPICTING THE PHILIPPINES' BILL ANNEXING SABAH AS PART OF ITS TERRITORY WAS BURNED IN A MOCK CEREMONY.

THE PRIME MINISTER REITERATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT MARCOS OF THE PHILIPPINES, BUT ONLY TO DISCUSS THE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND MUTUAL CO-OPERATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF SABAH.

AFTER A THREE-HOUR MILITARY BRIEFING, THE TUNKU SAID THAT MALAYSIA WOULD NOT CALL UPON HER ALLIES FOR HELP UNLESS THE PHILIPPINES LAUNCHED A FULL-SCALE ATTACK AGAINST SABAH.