Former Golkar Leader Wants Indonesia, Malaysia To Join Forces In Condemning Israel

JAKARTA, July 29 (Bernama) -- Former head of Indonesian political party Golkar Akbar Tanjung wants Indonesia and Malaysia to join forces in condemning the atrocities committed by Israel on Muslims in Palestine. He said that this was because Malaysia was respected by other Muslim countries for its stand on the people of Palestine. “On the issue of Palestine and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we really hope for Malaysia’s cooperation and we will be with the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) in showing support for our Muslim brothers in Palestine,” he told Bernama after attending a dinner at the residence of the Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia here Friday night. The dinner which was hosted by Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim was also attended by the Socio-Cultural Advisor to the Government of Malaysia Dr Rais Yatim. Also present were president of the Council of Former Elected Representatives of Malaysia (Mubarak) Abdul Aziz Rahman, Mubarak’s communications director Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, its supreme council member Abu Seman Yusop as well as former leaders of political parties in Indonesia. Akba, a former Cabinet minister and a former speaker of Indonesia’s Parliament, said the Al-Aqsa mosque was the responsibility of all Muslims in the world because it was the third holiest site in Islam after the mosques in Makkah and Madinah. Indonesia has called for the OIC to push Islamic countries to sanction Israel over its recent closure of the Al-Aqsa to Muslims. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has also condemned Israel’s actions, describing it as a violation of the rights of Muslims to perform the Friday prayers. The mosque was closed for Friday prayers last week after three Palestinian men and two Israeli police were killed in armed clashes in its compound. It has since been re-opened to Muslims, with certain conditions. -- BERNAMA