Show of force: The rally seen marching to the US Embassy on Jalan Tun Razak.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Any refusal to propose a motion related to Palestine in Parliament smacks of hypocrisy by Putrajaya, say Opposition lawmakers.
They said while the government had stated that it was against the Israeli Zionist regime, it refused to bring any such motion to Parliament.
“I call upon the government to stop being hypocrites and let us pass this motion so that Malaysians can be on the global stage against the United States and other Israeli supporters,” said Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
“We will do all we can to push for a resolution in the Dewan Rakyat to state that we condemn the superpowers which support the Israeli-Zionist regime,” he said at a rally of thousands of Perikatan Nasional supporters near KLCC’s Masjid Asy-Syakirin here yesterday to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Also at the rally, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said:
“The illegal (seizure of) land by Israel supported by US and European leaders has emboldened the Zionist regime to launch its latest aggression against the Palestinians.
“Today, the Israelis have taken over the Al-Aqsa Mosque and set up the two states to separate Arabs and Israelis. Al-Aqsa does not only belong to Palestinians but to all Muslims.
“Even non-Muslim countries with heart and compassion are with the Palestinians.
“The Muslims are united in this cause across the world even though we may differ in our opinions,” he added.
The rally participants – mostly PAS members and supporters – braved the drizzle and marched as they carried large Palestinian flags and paraphernalia to show their support.
Some carried red-stained bundles looking like dead babies in bloodied shrouds, symbolising the many children killed in the latest conflict in Gaza.
Police and PAS Unit Amal volunteers helped keep traffic at bay as the protesters marched the two kilometres from Masjid Asy-Syakirin to the US Embassy gates, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides of Jalan Tun Razak.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said that as the embassy was closed for the weekend, a delegation will be handing over a memorandum tomorrow.
