Malaysia Unhappy With UN Resolution - Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is unhappy with the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations (UN) which calls for an 'immediate and continuous' ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a 'total withdrawal' of Israeli troops subsequently from the Palestine territory.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said this was because the resolution, which was approved by 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council, only emphasized on the ceasefire but was silent on humanitarian aid.
In fact, it did not mention clearly the total withdrawal of troops and coordination by an international peace mission, he told reporters after witnessing a cheque presentation to the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Foundation, here Friday.
At the function, foundation chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad received a cheque of RM 3.5 million from the Albukhary Foundation and RM100,000 from Tabung Haji.
Rais said the Security Council's resolution was seen as merely paying lip service although 14 council members had voted for it except for the United States.
In addition, the passing of the resolution had shown that many countries were no longer cowed by the United States when approving any resolution.
Rais said although Russia, France and China supported the resolution, the decision reached was still inadequate to meet the aspiration of the international community who wanted something even more than just a ceasefire.
"So, we will try as far as possible to reach a world consensus on a resolution or several other decisions that touched on human rights in Gaza, for example, and on compensation," he said.
On Monday, 14 members of the UN Security Council voted to support resolution 1860 which calls for "an immediate and lasting ceasefire that must be complied with fully, and subsequently lead to a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza".
The United States, however, abstained from voting.
At the same function, Dr Mahathir suggested that the Special Parliament sitting on Monday could forward a resolution to the UN General Assembly to create a tribunal to hear war crime cases committed by Israeli leaders.
"The suggestion had been made by a human rights lawyer in the US, Francis Boyle, who wanted countries to pass a resolution via the general assembly so that a tribunal could be formed like the one that tried Serbians who had murdered large numbers of Bosnians," he said.
Earlier, speaking at a campaign for a "Selective Boycott of Jewish Products" at the National Mosque after the Friday prayer today, Dr Mahathir called on Malaysians to "refrain from eating McDonald, Ramly burger tastes better."
He said Israel must be taught a lesson, and among the efforts made by the people to protest against the Jewish violence in Palestine was to boycott products from the United States as well as Jewish products.
The campaign was participated by 1,000 people, including members of non-governmental organisations such as the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (PEKIDA) and Interactive Muslimah Association (IMAN).
Umno Youth International Bureau Exco member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir was also present.
The PPIM also called on the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) to withdraw the 'halal' certification given to Jewish-owned companies because such companies should not have been given the recognition and status in this country.
Meanwhile, the Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) today handed a memorandum condemning the invasion of Palestine by the Israeli regime to the UNICEF representative in Malaysia, Youssouf Oomar, at his office, here.
Meanwhile at the Jalan Tun Razak, here, about 5,000 people from 127 NGOs and political parties joined a procession to hand over a memorandum calling on the United States government to pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza.
The gathering, which began at 2.30 pm in front of the Tabung Haji building, here, walked in a procession carrying several banners and the Palestinian flag to the US embassy, here to hand over the memorandum.
The procession was carried out peacefully under tight security by police personnel from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) as well as traffic policemen to control traffic flow.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam called upon all other religious-minded people to pray for peace in Palestine.
"We pray that God will soften the hearts of the leaders to avoid the sledgehammer tactics of Israel or the provocative acts of Hamas which only added further to the sufferings of innocent people in Palestine," he said in a statement issued here.
In line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call for prayers to be held in all mosques for peace in Palestine, he said "we have asked our priests to organise prayer vigils in our parishes."
The Malaysian Action Front for Malay Unity (BBPM), meanwhile, planned to organise a procession to Parliament House on Monday to hand over a memorandum to Abdullah as a show of support for the efforts taken by the government to debate the issue, said its president, Osman Abu Bakar.
In Penang, protest were held at three mosques in the state, namely the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Al-Malik Khalid Mosque and the Seberang Perai Utara District Mosque at Telok Tasek Gelugor this afternoon.
At the Kapitan Keling Mosque, more than 1,000 people attended the peaceful gathering organised by the NGO Citizen International. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several State Executive Councillors also joined the protest.

tunku : the security council took this decision because of the pressure they are getting otherwise they won't be bothered about Palestine. They have never been bothered about Palestine.Usa is the biggest evil of all, they are the one who are supporting the zionist terrorist to terrorize the Palestinians.