KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that western countries do not need to teach the Islamic world about the meaning of democracy, human rights and sustainable development.
He said the western countries on the other hand need to stop trying to control the international media, merely for the sake of highlighting inaccurate narratives regarding the war in Gaza, Palestine.
He said western countries must also correct the narrative and admit the unrest in Palestine has been since 1948, and not because of the Hamas attack on October 7.
“We need to be clear and cannot be determined by the western countries that want to start the narrative (continuous attacks in Palestine starting since the military actions of Hamas) on October 7.
“The continuous destruction (in Palestine) happened since 1948, followed by the direct invasion of the al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969. In fact, now the destruction continues, whether infrastructure or human and genocide. This is what happened,” he said while inaugurating the All-Malaysian Mosque Summit for al-Aqsa and Palestine at the Federal Territory Mosque here today.
Also present were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, his deputy Dr Zulkifli Hasan, and Malaysia Mosque Conference for Al-Aqsa and Palestine (MM4AP) co-chair Datuk Seri Ahmad Awang.
Anwar insisted Malaysia remains committed to not allowing companies registered with Israel to enter and carry out any activities in the country.
He said the previous government, which strongly opposes Israel’s tyranny, still allowed direct trade with such companies in the country.
“That’s why under the Madani Government, the decision was made unanimously by the Cabinet to stop all forms of direct trade (with Israel).
“Then these very people who were involved in allowing direct trade with Israel insulted us by claiming that we have relations with some companies that have links with Israel,” he said.
Thus, Anwar said the government should use its wisdom, know its strength, right and opportunity to develop internal strength and not just resist recklessly to the point of weakening the country’s arts and culture.
“Those who rebuke us on the matter of trade with any company should answer why when they were holding the reins of power, allowed direct trade with ZIM (shipping company) and Israel companies, that for me is the main issue that should be answered.
“I don’t want to use this space just to clarify such things, but we have to emphasise, but we have to agree in one voice,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad in his speech said the date August 21 was chosen by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as World Mosque Day because on that date in 1969, a Zionist attempted to burn down Al-Aqsa Mosque and destroyed the pulpit of Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi in the incident.
“Thus the purpose of the MM4AP in conjunction with World Mosque Day is to unite the people, take the spirit of liberating and defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he said.
About 700 representatives of mosques and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), foreign diplomats, scholars and observers from several countries attended the summit organised by the Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations of Malaysia in collaboration with other parties such as the Alliance of World Masjid in Defence of Al Aqsa and the Asian Ulama Council Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Anwar today slammed those who questioned the government’s efforts to bring injured Palestinians to Malaysia for treatment.
He described the remarks made by some individuals as rude and lacking in basic human compassion.
Anwar said he felt compelled to respond to a post by someone who allegedly said: “If you bring in the Palestinians, don’t bring them to Sarawak.”
The prime minister said: “Yesterday, I was in Kuching, Sarawak, for the closing of the Malaysian Games. I am compelled to respond to this remark from a person who said: ‘If you bring in the Palestinians, don’t bring them to Sarawak.’
“That was extremely rude and demonstrated a lack of understanding of basic humanity,” he said in his speech when officiating the MM4AP.
Recently, an NGO leader from Sarawak uploaded a statement on Facebook questioning the government’s move to bring injured Palestinians to Malaysia.
“Where is the humanity when racial or regional sentiments lead to such attitudes?
“Fortunately, these are only small voices. We must not give them any attention, as allowing them to persist could lead to their proliferation and become detrimental,” he said.
— Bernama
