PUTRAJAYA, July 22 — Asean must be more vocal and united in its views on Israel’s continued oppression of Palestinians, said former Foreign Affairs Minister Tan Sri Rais Yatim.
Rais, who is also Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) adviser, said the Palestine issue can be brought up by Asean members through platforms such as forums, foreign ministers’ meetings and at gatherings involving heads of government.
“Asean, as a regional body, must be more vocal and proactive in advocating for Palestine’s rights.
“The strong demand for a ceasefire by Israel must be done collectively by Asean,” he said at the Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organisations: Free Palestine Colloquium here today.
Rais said in addition to Asean, international groups such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League must also take a serious stand on issues involving Palestine.
Meanwhile, PGPF president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the colloquium is a platform for NGOs to re-affirm their commitment to the Palestinian cause, as well as to demand and pressure the international community to be responsible towards the ongoing genocide and to put a stop to it.
Dr Mahathir’s speech was read by PGPF chairman Tan Sri Norian Mai.
Among the speakers at the colloquium were Yisroel Dovid Weiss from Neturei Karta, an international organisation of anti-Zionist Orthodox; Nobel Peace Prize 2024 nominee Dr Maung Zarni; and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Malaysia chairman Prof Mohd Nazari Ismail.
— Bernama
