Malaysia will not join US-backed Board of Peace, will monitor actions over Palestinian rights

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Malaysia will not join the US-backed Board of Peace (BOP) but will continue monitoring its activities and criticising any actions that undermine Palestinian rights, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the government was assessing developments involving the BOP, including its scope, implementation and implications for achieving lasting peace in West Asia.

“If the Board of Peace takes any action that goes against the interests of the Palestinian people, Malaysia will remain consistent in voicing its criticism,” he said during the question-and-answer session.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) on Malaysia’s diplomatic efforts to ensure the BOP did not undermine Palestinian self-determination and to address the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Lukanisman said Malaysia would continue exerting pressure through the United Nations and other multilateral platforms to defend Palestinian rights and justice.

The deputy minister, however, acknowledged challenges posed by the misuse of veto powers, which had hindered stronger international action to protect Palestinians.

Responding to another supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on establishing an independent and credible mechanism to monitor the Gaza ceasefire, Lukanisman said Malaysia would continue raising the issue through the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Asean.

He said the Foreign Ministry had also issued an official statement condemning Israel’s ceasefire violations, restrictions on humanitarian aid and actions that had worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. — Bernama