PUTRAJAYA: The United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres told Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan that he acknowledged Malaysia's efforts on the situations in Palestine and Myanmar.
Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement Wednesday (Jan 24) said Guterres and Mohamad met at the margins of the UN Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate in New York on Tuesday (local time).
"The Foreign Minister reiterated Malaysia's unequivocal solidarity with Palestinians and handed over a collection of postcards signed by Malaysian Cabinet ministers, on behalf of fellow Malaysians, to express support for Palestine," the statement read.
On Jan 17, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Cabinet members signed a special postcard, addressed to the UNSG.
The special postcard was to express the wishes of Malaysians by urging the UN to accept Palestine as a member state, and demanding that violence and cruelty against the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime be stopped immediately.
Mohamad in his speech at the UNSC Open Debate On The Situation in The Middle East Including Palestinian Question on Tuesday (Wednesday, Malaysia time), said Malaysia demanded accountability for Israel’s clear violations of international law in Gaza.
The lack of accountability for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza undermines the legitimacy of international law, and efforts towards ending the illegal occupation of Palestine, he said.
On Myanmar crisis, Wisma Putra said the Foreign Minister reiterated Malaysia's position and highlighted ASEAN’s ongoing efforts to address the issue.
On Feb 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military overthrew the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, abruptly halting the country’s fragile transition towards democracy. Since then, Myanmar has been in turmoil. - Bernama
