Dr Mahathir's Letters Prove The Government's Consistent Stand On Israel - DPM

KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), March 2 (Bernama) -- The letters by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to three Israeli prime ministers are proof of the Malaysian government’s consistent stand in not recognising the Jewish nation. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the contents of Mahathir's letters, which had been published by the media, also proved that the Malaysian government had no diplomatic tie with Israel. "The government agreed to reveal the content of the letters sent to the three Israeli prime ministers, as published by the media today. "They clarify our government's stand, right from the time of Dr Mahathir as the prime minister, we have opposed the violent acts of the Zionist Israel. "Also in the letters, it is stated our request for Israel to withdraw from the occupied land and to stop their violence against the Palestinian people," he told reporters here Thursday. Kuala Terengganu is the capital city of Terengganu state. Terengganu is located at the east coast region of Peninsular Malaysia. Earlier, Muhyiddin, who is here on a one-day working visit, held a special meeting with the state and federal civil servants in Terengganu. Also present was Terengganu Chief Minister Ahmad Said. The letters from Dr Mahathir to the three Israeli prime ministers - dated Dec 21, 1993 to Yitzhak Rabin, Benjamin Netanyahu (March 14, 1997) and Ehud Barak (June 8, 1999) - were published by the media Thursday to prove Malaysia's firm stand against the Israeli atrocities. Elaborating the matter, Muhyiddin said Malaysia had always wanted the Palestinian people to have their own sovereign country, with their rights to be respected, not to be treated cruelly and murdered. "It is clear, in this matter, the National Front (Barisan Nasional - BN) government does not vacillate, unlike (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim. "When he was in the government and United Malays National Organisation (Umno), he supported our aspiration for Palestine, but now his concern is for Israel's security. The question on the Palestinian people being tortured and not protected is ignored," he added. Muhyiddin said the government is steadfast in its policy and stand on the matter. "Until today, our efforts to help the Palestinian people who are being oppressed continue, including the humanitarian aid," he added. Meanwhile in TAWAU, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said the move by the government to disclose the letters sent by Dr Mahathir to the Israeli prime ministers showed the courage of the national leadership all this while to state its firm stand on the cruelty of the Israeli regime. "The letters prove that we have a courageous attitude and conveyed our clear views to the Israeli regime. "This also proves that the opposition likes to twist the facts. It shows that they (the opposition) are lying," he told reporters after closing the Premier Briefing Programme at the Zone 6 Level, here Thursday. On the same matter, Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the letters hampered attempts by Anwar to put himself on par with Dr Mahathir on the Israeli issue. "Anwar has not only failed to divert the people's attention, but also smeared himself, for not being consistent in his stand," said Hishammuddin, who is also Umno vice-president, via the short-messaging system. Another Umno vice-president, Mohd Shafie Apdal, said the letters clearly showed that Malaysia was consistent in its support for efforts to free Palestine. "What should be defended now is not Israel's security, but the Palestinian people because they are the victims of Zionist suppression," said Mohd Shafie, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, after opening the 46th MARA Day celebration in the federal capital Thursday. The United Malays National Organisation,(abbreviated as UMNO) is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence. Barisan Nasional (Malay; historically National Front; commonly abbreviated as BN) is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 and along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence. The coalition's headquarters is located in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur. -- BERNAMA