Anwar: OIC to meet on Palestine, date being fixed

KUALA LUMPUR: Several Muslim nations have agreed to an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Palestine issue, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said the timing of the meeting was still being discussed, as well as extending invitations to like-minded non-Muslim nations such as China, Russia, Bolivia, Ireland and Brazil.

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"Brazil seems to be of the same stand but we have to discuss (invitations) as a consensus is needed on attendance.

"If not, only Muslim nations will meet.

"This has been decided and a date is being discussed.

"If there is (a date), God willing, I will go by whatever means," he told reporters when met after launching the Malaysian Digital Expo 2023 Grand Finale here on Monday (Nov 6).

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On Wednesday (Nov 1), Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir had been instructed to contact Turkiye and Saudi Arabia on the appropriateness of holding an emergency OIC meeting.

Anwar had expressed Malaysia's support for a proposal by the two countries to convene an OIC meeting to discuss the Palestine issue.

Meanwhile, Anwar chided certain quarters for taking advantage of others' misery by politicising the crisis in Palestine.

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"It is not appropriate to over-politicise the issue by berating and scolding when people are dying, homes and places destroyed.

"Don't exploit the misery of others," he said.

Without naming names, he noted that there were some who spoke ill of others, yet had done nothing to help ease the Palestinians' suffering.