PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has continued to voice the nation's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause through bilateral relations with other countries.
He said Malaysia's good relations with Egypt has helped to expedite humanitarian aid in reaching Palestine.
"During a meeting with (Egypt) President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, I had asked for priority to be given to humanitarian aid from Malaysia and Alhamdulillah, he kept his promise; our planes (carrying the aid) are among the earliest to cross the border," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly today.
Anwar said he also took the opportunity to express the country's stance in a four-eyed meeting with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida yesterday, he said.
"I said Japan's policy, when it comes to investments, its friendship is with us, but its foreign policy is slanted towards the West, especially the United States, probably due to geopolitical factors as the country is near North Korea and China.
"I said we don't take an aggressive approach and don't support violence. However, if a prefecture, (say), Osaka or Hiroshima is controlled by others, the people will stay silent. That's what happened in Palestine."
Anwar said Kishido had firmly expressed his support for a ceasefire and increase in humanitarian aid for Palestine.
Similarly, Malaysia had also expressed its views during Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte's visit here, he said.
"I said you (Netherlands Prime Minister) represent a more democratic (country) and are even more concerned about humanitarian issues. (You) don't, for instance, choose prejudice against a group.
"It's their choice to support Israel, but don't be cruel against Palestine. We conveyed this politely during the closed-door meeting. I asked that he (Rutte) relay this to the European countries."
Interestingly, he said, two-thirds of Dutch people were pro-Israel prior to the latest attack on Gaza, but it was later learnt two weeks ago that two-thirds of the citizens had openly expressed sympathy and support for Palestine and Gaza.
In the latest to come, he said, leaders of Muslim countries are expected to convene in the near future.
"Initially, I proposed that the meeting would not only involve Muslim nations, as Brazil, Ireland, Russia, China and Bolivia have a soft approach with the stance to protect humanitarian rights.
"However, when it was discussed with other Islamic leaders, before there was a consensus to bring in other countries, the decision now is to gather leaders of Muslim countries on a date that would be decided in a few days time."
While there was no sign of Israel ceasing its attacks on Gaza, Anwar said, there was also a "positive side" when the conflict is now being discussed openly in the Western world, which did not happen before.
