Humanitarian Missions To Gaza: Malaysian NGOs Must Coordinate With Malaysia Foreign Ministry - Minister Mohamad
REMBAU (Malaysia), Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan has advised Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) looking to participate in humanitarian missions to Gaza to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry first to ensure smooth and safe deliveries of aid.
He said Malaysia has diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan and this facilitates matters of aid delivery via the Rafah border crossing that connects Gaza with Egypt, and the King Hussein Bridge crossing between West Bank and Jordan.
“To NGOs and individuals who are eager to help the oppressed people of Gaza, I say thank you. However, for delivering aid, it is best that we do it as a group, not in a haphazard way or as individuals.
“Get them (the NGOs) to inform Wisma Putra (the Foreign Ministry) and then we would inform Egypt and Jordan about the NGOs or operations to deliver food and such to Gaza. This will make facilitate matters,” he told reporters after handing over education and Deepavali contributions to more than 1,000 recipients here, on Sunday.
He added that there are a few Malaysian NGOs that have been operating for a long time in this region including Sumud Nusantara that owns a warehouse for storing aid in Egypt and were active in delivering food to Gaza before the closure of the Rafah border crossing.
On the Gaza peace plan, Mohamad, who is also Rembau Member of Parliament, said Malaysia welcomes the decision by Hamas to agree to the proposal, calling it a “small window” for the delivery of humanitarian aid, although the 20 points that have been laid out give more concessions to Israel.
“If Hamas did not agree to the proposal, I see no other opportunity for Gazans to receive international aid. They would be continually assaulted and most likely would be forced out of Gaza,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia would continue to push the United Nations (UN) to immediately hold an emergency summit to ensure the establishment of a free Palestine is implemented, consistent with the resolution that has been officially endorsed by the UN Security Council.
United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday reportedly announced that Israel Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan brokered by the US.
On the appearance of heads of states to the 47th ASEAN Summit slated for this month, Mohamad said the decision were made based on a consensus between all ASEAN member states.
He stressed that Malaysia as ASEAN Chair cannot decide unilaterally whether to invite any particular leader or not.
“The thing that has dominated conversations now is the appearance of Trump. I ask the people to understand that it (Trump’s appearance) would provide us with ample opportunities to speak directly and (discuss) many matters that can be beneficial to Malaysia.
“At the same time, we want to ensure that the pressure by the international community on Israel continues and the effort to establish a sovereign Palestinian state can be realised soon,” he said.The 47th ASEAN Summit is slated for end of this month in Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA
