KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the differences between the political parties in Malaysia, one issue that unites them all is the Palestine struggle, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Ayer Hitam MP also said that the Malaysian Parliament made the right decision when it allowed MPs to debate the recent escalation of violence between Palestine and Israel.
“This (the debate) is the best decision. Both sides agree with this.
“Every time we debate about the Zionist actions, we will all condemn them.
“Every time there is a resolution (on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict), we never get to see a follow-up on it,” Dr Wee said during the debate on the special motion on the crisis tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Dewan Rakyat.
Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide were united in calls of support for the Palestinian homeland following a special motion on the Palestine-Israel crisis in Dewan Rakyat.
In response, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal urged the government to establish religious and cultural diplomacy with Palestine and other Muslim countries to counter the propaganda employed by the Zionist regime.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said since Israel is heavily supported by the American lobby, it is incumbent upon Muslim countries to show their solidarity with Palestinians through religious and cultural education.
“It is time we give our full support to Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigade to defend every inch of Palestinian land, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I suggest the government and Wisma Putra take a new approach through diplomacy, which is for the government to lead a religious and cultural diplomacy because although we know that this is a humanitarian conflict, religious elements exist in this case, both from the Muslim and the Jewish sides,” he said.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) urged Malaysia to continue labelling Israel as an apartheid entity and not to normalise relationships with the country.
“Malaysia should also support the new Palestinian generation and movements including the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement,” he said.
Saifuddin also urged the government to support Palestinian students studying in Malaysian schools and universities.
In turn, Ahmad Zahid expressed gratitude to all MPs who have set aside their differences to support the rights of Palestinians.
“It is the first time we all stand united on a specific issue,” he said when wrapping up replies on the motion in Parliament yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said that the support shown by lawmakers showed that they were able to put their differences aside.
“We have set aside differences in colour, views, religion, language and culture in support of Palestinians because we are Malaysians,” he said, while urging all MPs to join in peaceful rallies at selected mosques in solidarity with Palestine after Friday prayers this week.
He also launched the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) at the Parliament lobby, in which Wisma Putra had agreed to contribute RM1mil.
