Wednesday January 23, 2013
Visit hailed as a testimony of commitment to Palestine
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS
mazwin@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Both politicians and non-governmental organisations have described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s historical visit to Gaza as a testimony of Malay- sia’s commitment to the Palestinian cause.
In congratulating the Prime Minister for being the country’s first head of government to make such a trip, they said Najib’s visit proved that Malaysia and its people were sincere in extending a helping hand to Palestine.
Perdana Global Peace Organisation adviser Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said Najib’s visit provided a huge morale boost for Palestinians trying to get recognition from the international community.
“The visit shows that we (Malaysia) put our money where our mouth is and not just provide lip service. Here, we have a head of government visiting a place that was a target of severe bombardment until recently,” he said, likening this to the one made by his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, to Sarajevo during the Bosnian war in the 1990s.
Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Najib’s visit to Gaza renewed Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to Palestine and demonstrated that foreign relations were as important as domestic concerns.
“I join fellow Sabahans in expressing our support to the Prime Minister to play a bigger role in international peace process initiatives, such as Palestine-Israel and in the southern Thailand region,” he said.
Aqsa Sharif chairman Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor said Najib carried the aspirations of millions of Malaysians who wished to see everlasting peace in Palestine. “With the United Nations now recognising Palestine as a state, this is an opportune time for Malaysia to engage in bilateral and economic ties and help its nation-building process,” he said.
Islamic Relief Malaysia country director Zairulshahfuddin Zainal Abidin said the visit had boosted the country’s image and reputation among Palestinians.
Related Stories:
Malaysia supports Fatah-Hamas reconciliation
Big support for a just cause
- Two riders in motorcycle convoy die in mishap
- Student activist Adam Adli remanded 5 days
- Foresty DG: Less than 1% of forest reserves in peninsula affected by illegal logging
- PAS gets four Selangor exco posts
- Dr Chua: Tee’s appointment to Johor exco will be discussed by MCA central committee
- Taib wants infrastructure development issues resolved
- More want English-medium schools option
- Police investigating organisers of Penang thanksgiving ceramah
- Kit Siang slams new IGP for having double standards
- Labourer charged with injuring a man during GE13 campaign period
- Blind student successfully crosses Penang channel
- Karpal tells Tunku Aziz to cease attacks on DAP
- Government to maintain food subsidies
- All eyes on Najib’s new Cabinet
- Hundreds train attention on spreading awareness on AIDS
- Adrian Cheng: updating a Hong Kong family empire for a changing China
- Wall Street Week Ahead: Correction talk gets old as rally sails along
- China April housing inflation quickens to two year high
- EU cites Chinese telecoms Huawei and ZTE for trade violations
- Yahoo to vote on $1.1 billion Tumblr buy: AllThingsD
- Dow, S&P end at records, stocks mark fourth week of gains
- CEO: Catcha Media won’t be taken private - for now
- Sarawak politically-linked stocks rally
- Jala: GST could add up to RM27b to country’s income
- Analysts say UMW Holdings’ O&G offering was widely anticipated
- Matrix Concepts’ IPO oversubscribed by 11.3 times
- Instacom wins RM200m job?
- SFSS set to be largest shareholder of Bintulu Port
- Northport buys two new quay cranes
- Bursa Malaysia closes on Friday
- Thailand's Red Shirts mark deadly crackdown
- Pakistan's Imran blames rival for killing
- Karachi voters back at polls after ballot stuffing
- Philippines waiting for Taiwan anger to cool
- Russia retrieves mice, newts from space
- 29 killed in South Sudan cattle raid
- Saudi woman creates history by scaling Everest
- Lotto fever strikes US as jackpot swells (Updated)
- Pakistani politician gunned down in Karachi
- Dozens hurt in US road accident, say reports
- Shaky start for favourites China
- Chong Wei continues to stay focused despite all the changes
- Apacs extend Chun Seang’s contract for another year
- Denmark’s Hoyer is new president of the BWF
- Indonesian coach: Individual sponsorship will revive our shuttlers’ fortunes
- Thongchai faces McDowell in Match-Play climax
- Golf: Griffin wins fog-bound SK Telecom Open
- Golf: Choi edges sizzling Nordqvist for LPGA lead
- Poulter angry with himself after World Match-Play exit
- Inconsistent and uncomfortable but Bradley still ahead of pack
- Korda holds off charging Webb to seize the lead
- McIlroy splits with management to go it alone
- Hall of Famer Venturi dies at age 82
- Briton Redding wins French Moto2 GP
- Hafizh struggling with new Kalex bike in Le Mans
- Security guards 'chopped up like meat' at Cheras condo
- Bring back English schools
- Hills in Cameron Highlands ‘raped’ at an alarming rate
- Be wary of banking Trojans
- Retract your statement, Guan Eng urges Zahid
- Student activist Adam Adli arrested over his remarks at May 13 forum
- Five men assault friend at Johor police station
- Karpal tells Tunku Aziz to cease attacks on DAP
- Pakatan ceramah held at Esplanade despite police not approving permit
- Tee’s appointment had nothing to do with Umno, says Khaled
- Be wary of banking Trojans
- Bring back English schools
- My home, my school
- Security guards 'chopped up like meat' at Cheras condo
- Expert: Be very sure you need a mastectomy
- Blind man wants to raise awareness on retinal diseases
- Bring back English schools
- Home garden talk a hit with Malaysians
- Greying China taps rural elderly to care for those even older
- Taib wants infrastructure development issues resolved
RSS
