PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim this morning urged all Malaysians not to practise double standards in how they view independence, particularly when it comes to the issue of Palestine’s war with Israel.
Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, he said the struggle of Palestinians today is similar to when Malaya was fighting for its independence.
“I want to take this opportunity to urge all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, to view this conflict from its historical facts and humanity perspective.
“Don’t let this issue make us have double standards on the meaning of independence. Malaysia gained its independence after we fought against British rule, and we were united to fight the British.
“But why now some are being lenient when it comes to Israel’s occupation of Palestine?” the prime minister asked.
Anwar (Pakatan Harapan-Tambun) was answering a question posed by Suhaizan Kaiat (Harapan-Pulai) during the Prime Minister’s Question Time.
Adding further, he also likened the struggle of Palestinians and Hamas to Nelson Mandela who led the African National Congress (ANC) to fight apartheid in South Africa.
Like the Palestine issue today, Anwar said many at the time doubted Mandela and ANC’s struggle against oppression by South Africa’s white citizens against coloured people and black Africans.
“But now we know that what they did then was a fight against brutality and oppression by the white people against the blacks.”
Never neutral over cruelty
He also said certain quarters in the country have also criticised the government’s position on the Palestine issue, calling it contradictory to Malaysia’s neutrality principle.
However, he stressed that while Malaysia always upholds its principle as a neutral state, the country will never be neutral when it comes to cruelty and humanity issues.
Anwar also reaffirmed his support for the Education Ministry’s Palestine Solidarity Week programme at schools across the country.
“This is why I support the education minister’s call for students to be encouraged to keep abreast about current issues. They should be encouraged, not forced to.
“Of course, we have a guideline so that we won’t promote violence or sow hatred among ourselves. But (this programme) serves as awareness on what is going on, on the meaning of oppression, cruelty, and dispossession,” he said.
Meanwhile, on a related matter, Anwar said Malaysia has not decided whether it will boycott the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in the US.
He said this in response to an additional question by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang), who wanted to know if Malaysia plans to boycott the event as an act of solidarity with Palestine.
“We are looking into it. We are in contact with other Asean countries, and China, on their position (about the meeting).
“We will make a decision that is in line with our allies and Asia,” he said.
Call for UN peacekeepers
At a press conference later, the Parliament Palestine Caucus urged the government to summon ambassadors from countries that opposed a United Nations General Assembly resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Harapan-Ledang), who leads the caucus, said it also urged Malaysia to support a request by the United Arab Emirates for the UN Security Council to hold a special sitting on Israel’s move to continue ground attacks that also targeted civilians in Gaza.
“We also urge the government to propose that the UN make preparations to deploy peacekeepers to end attacks and genocide by the Zionist regime,” he said.
Syed Ibrahim also called on peace-loving Malaysians to refrain from using language or narratives that can normalise Israel’s actions. - Mkini
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