Gaza: Malaysia gives UN one day

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has given the United Nations Security Council a one-day “deadline” to come up with a resolution on Israel’s aggression against Palestine before it would go “full steam ahead” to call for a special session of the General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said this was because before any petition could be made for a special UN session, its Security Council would have had to have exhausted all its procedures but fail to produce the desired results.
“We were informed that the Security Council may produce a resolution on the Palestine issue today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday).
“We will wait but if it fails, then we have a stronger platform to push for the convening of the special session,” he told a press conference Wednesday at the end of a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his visiting Syrian counterpart Mohammad Naji Otri.
Abdullah on Monday has called for the UN to hold a special session to discuss the atrocities by Israel against Palestine.
Rais said a special Parliament session will be held on Monday to discuss and pass a resolution pertaining to the Gaza onslaught by Israel.
“The matter was discussed during Cabinet meeting today and, looking at the seriousness of the matter, the Prime Minister has agreed for a special session to be held in Parliament at 2.30pm next Monday.
“The Prime Minister also informed the Cabinet that Malaysia would not lose anything by trying to get the UN special session to take place and it reflects the Government’s earnestness in helping Palestine,” he said.
Rais acknowledged that petitioning for a special session to be held would not be “a breeze” as superpowers like the United States would use their influence to quash the idea.
“That is why such special session is hardly convened, but the overriding right of member countries to petition for one is still there.
“And that is what Malaysia intends to do, to get the UN to hold such a session in the event the Security Council fails to deliver a desired resolution in a day or two,” he said.

Support for M’sia’s call for special UN session on Palestine


PUTRAJAYA: The world community has started to come out to support Malaysia’s call for a special United Nations General Assembly session to discuss on the atrocities against Palestine.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said the Asean grouping and Indonesia has responded to the idea positively and Malaysia hoped more countries would support the move so there would be an assertive effort to stop Israel’s aggression in Gaza.
“I have received letters from my Indonesian counterpart Dr Hassan Wirajuda and also from Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuan yesterday (Tuesday). Both voiced their commitment and support to see an end to the violence.
“This is a positive indication that Malaysia’s views on the Israel-Palestine issue are accepted by many,” he said after attending his ministry’s first monthly gathering for the year.
On Monday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pushed for a special UN general assembly session to discuss on Israel’s invasion of Palestine’s Gaza Strip.
The Prime Minister had also criticised the United States for not doing enough to halt the invasion and for vetoing the UN Security Council’s move to condemn Israel.
Abdullah has contacted UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and the world body’s president Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, urging the two leaders to hold the special session after the security council failed to reach a decision to stop the attacks.
Rais said Wisma Putra had also asked Malaysia’s permanent representative to the UN, Datuk Hamidon Ali to “increase his lobbying efforts” to get more countries to support the special session.
“We are hoping that the new United States’ president Barack Obama, who will assume duty on Jan 20, will use his power, influence and humanity to stop the violence inflicted on Palestinians,” he said.
For the first time since the attacks, Obama voiced his concern over developments in the Middle East but said that he would not interfere until he officially takes office.

tunku : we are happy to see at last Malaysia is alive again in the international arena, thanks to rais yatim. Malaysia should rise up again like it us to do before.Gaza invasion is a very serious matter and the UN must act fast.