KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s firm stance on defending the rights of the Palestinian people at the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (Nov 11) has brought renewed hope to the Muslim world on the Palestinian issue.
Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali, a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)’s Perdana Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, said this was due to the perceived ineffectiveness of Islamic organisations like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in addressing the matter at this time.
"The Arab world appears divided, but Prime Minister Anwar is firm and even called for the restoration of the 1967 borders, which is something agreed upon by the Arab League and organisations representing Palestine.
"A resolution to that extent is already significant for the Palestinian struggle. So far, no other world leader has been as firm and consistent as he is in demanding justice for the Palestinian people,” he said when contacted by Bernama on Tuesday (Nov 12).
On Monday, Anwar called on the international community to unite to suspend or expel Israel from the United Nations (UN) for its actions, which he described as exceeding the bounds of reason and humanity, as well as committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
In his national statement, Anwar also warned that if the world failed to act, this violence could spread and endanger the entire region, as Israel’s brutal actions had already affected Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Mazlan added that Anwar’s consistent leadership on this issue had also drawn the world’s attention, as Western countries like Spain and France have expressed their disapproval of Israel despite their alliances within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
"Furthermore, Malaysia will chair ASEAN next year, and since Anwar began leading the country two years ago, Malaysia’s name has become more prominent internationally.
"This role can be leveraged more effectively as Malaysia chairs ASEAN, allowing for the Palestinian issue to be highlighted. This will be more impactful as ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand have influence with Western nations,” he said.
Echoing this, Assoc Prof Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar of the Department of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that as ASEAN Chair next year, Malaysia would receive extensive international coverage.
Tunku Mohar said this opportunity should be maximised to support efforts to find a long-term solution to issues related to Palestine.
"Although Malaysia’s efforts to suspend or expel Israel from the UN face procedural challenges (requiring Security Council support), at the very least it can attract international attention (and build support) to stand against the atrocities of Israel’s Zionist regime,” he said.
He further commented that yesterday’s summit provided an essential platform to unify the views and commitments of Islamic and Arab nations to address the ongoing Palestine-Israel issue.
He noted that the summit also sent a clear signal that Islamic and Arab countries were united in defending the rights and freedom of the Palestinian people and in condemning the inhumane actions of the Zionist regime.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said in a statement that his organisation appreciated the Prime Minister’s strong call at the summit.
"This firm stance demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to continue being a strong voice advocating for justice for the Palestinian people and others oppressed in the Middle East.
"His presence and strong call for united action underscore the need for unity among the Muslim world and the international community in addressing this issue urgently and effectively,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s firm stance also received support from the Serantau Muslim Welfare Organisation, which described his bold speech as reflecting the true voice of the global Muslim community that has long witnessed Israel’s ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.
Serantau Muslim secretary Muhammad Faeez Azahar, in a separate statement, said that Malaysia’s call for an arms embargo and possible expulsion of Israel from the UN was an appropriate step and should be supported by all parties.
"Serantau Muslim urges the entire international community to support the proposed arms embargo on Israel, consider its expulsion from the UN, and increase humanitarian assistance efforts to Gaza.
"We also call for an immediate halt to attacks on the Palestinian people and the strengthening of cooperation among Islamic nations to defend the Palestinian cause. We must act now. As the Prime Minister said, ‘we must draw a line in the sand, not only as Muslims but as fellow humans’,” he said. – Bernama
