KUALA LUMPUR: United States president Donald Trump was invited to attend the Asean Summit in Malaysia later this year, through Malaysia's position as the Asean chair, says deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
Mohamad said the chair has the responsibility of inviting Asean's dialogue partners, stressing that the invite is also based on Asean's principles of neutrality and centrality.
"This is not an ordinary bilateral invitation, but in Malaysia's capacity as the chair of Asean.
"God willing, we will also take this opportunity to voice our concerns.
"Most importantly, we want this cooperation between Malaysia, Asean and the United States, to establish an independent Palestine, ensuring it is free from the threat of genocide and destruction, whilst also rebuilding Gaza," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 6).
He was responding to a question by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Pakatan-Ledang) who asked about the Ministry's response towards concerns raised about Trump's invitation to the Asean Summit later this month.
On the 20-point plan announced by Trump recently, Mohamad highlighted how it could lead to the end of bombing, attacks and destruction in Gaza.
"It would also provide an opportunity for the global community to channel humanitarian aid into Gaza, unlike before," he said, noting that there are some loopholes in the 20-point plan.
Mohamad also rebutted Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Perikatan-Machang) who said there was no reason for Malaysia to invite Trump into the country, regardless of any capacity.
The deputy minister said that Hamas had also provided a "conditional agreement" to the 20-point proposal put forward by Trump.
"Let us not be more Hamas than Hamas itself. We want to achieve peace in Palestine.
"We are looking at this from the Asean perspective.
"However, it will not stop us from finding a resolution towards achieving peace in Palestine," he said.
Previously, Trump presented a 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza, outlining a detailed framework to achieve peace in the region.
On one hand, the proposal opens a pathway towards the potential establishment of a Palestinian state, a significant shift designed to achieve a lasting resolution.
However, many international political observers have described the peace plan as a façade to silence the growing global solidarity condemning the inhumane actions of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza.
