MINISTER HOPES MOTION IN PARLIAMENT HEARD BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), June 3 (Bernama) -- Information Communication and
Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim hopes the motion in Parliament on Monday to
condemn severely the attack by Israeli troops on ships which were bringing
humanitarian aid to Gaza will be heard by the international community so that
action would be taken against the Tel Aviv regime.

He said the motion to be tabled by the country's highest legislative body to
denounce the inhumane action was something which had previously been done by
the government, namely the motion to condemn the Israeli attack on Gaza two
years ago.

"All parties, regardless whether the Barisan Nasional (National Front) or
the opposition had supported the motion (previously).

Barisan Nasional (Malay for National Front; commonly abbreviated as BN) is a
major political coalition in Malaysia.

"And we, through this ministry, are placing high hopes that this
announcement (on the motion to condemn Israel) can be heard and is recognised by
the international community," he told reporters when asked on the decision to
table the motion, made at the cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Earlier, Rais gave away certificates and diplomas to 165 graduands at the
convocation of the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education Campus Malay at a
hotel in Subang Jaya, here Thursday.


The attack by Israeli troops on the Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara" which was
ferrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on Monday had been severely denounced by the
international community.

Twelve Malaysian nationals who were on board the ship were safe but
several
volunteers from the other countries had been killed.

Rais said Malaysia's opinion as expressed by Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak was clear that Israel must be punished by the United nations (UN) for
breaching international law and violating human rights.

-- BERNAMA