PM Anwar seeks stronger Asean-GCC push to end Gaza atrocities
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for stronger cooperation between Asean countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to end Israel's atrocities in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters after performing Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Putra here on Saturday (June 7), the Prime Minister said that regional and international collective efforts were crucial to ending the prolonged conflict and the suffering of the Palestinian people.
"We've conveyed our stance (through a Wisma Putra statement), but this cannot be the effort of just one country. As we saw in recent engagements with Gulf nations, there is a shared consensus.
"So Asean, the Gulf states, and a few other countries can come together to provide a clear message and exert strong pressure on the world to put a stop to it (Israel's brutality),' he said.
He was responding to the United States' use of its veto power on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid.- Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia's FM calls for stronger Asean mechanisms after Vision 2045 adoption
JAKARTA/MANILA (Bernama): Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for strengthening Asean's institutional mechanisms, including its diplomatic corps and central bodies, to effectively implement the Asean Community Vision 2045 adopted at last month's summit in Kuala Lumpur. At a meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to Asean (CPR) and Timor-Leste's Ambassador to Asean at the Foreign Ministry here, he praised the progress achieved through Asean's cooperation frameworks, especially after the adoption of the Asean Community Vision (ACV) 2045. He said the long-term vision, adopted at the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, outlines a strategic roadmap for the next two decades, envisaging a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred Asean. "We need to strengthen Asean mechanisms, including the CPR, and bolster the Asean Secretariat and Asean Headquarters in Jakarta to optimise our potential in addressing challenges within the region and globally,' he said. Sugiono also underscored the CPR's role in fostering community building, facilitating cross-pillar coordination, and engaging with Asean's external partners, as it is essential to achieving the goals of ACV. He further welcomed Timor-Leste's upcoming accession as Asean's eleventh member state later this year. - Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Stay out of India-Pakistan conflict, MP urges Anwar
Backbencher Larry Sng, who is president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia, said the Indo-Pakistan dispute is 'beyond us'. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A backbencher has urged the government to stay out of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, and to instead focus on leading Asean this year. Julau MP Larry Sng said the dispute between the two South Asian nations was 'beyond us' while chairing Asean was the mandate at hand for the unity government. 'Malaysia should not interfere in the India-Pakistan conflict, it is beyond us. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should solely focus on Asean, that is our mandate,' said Sng, who is president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia. Last month, Anwar said Malaysia was open to helping cool tensions between India and Pakistan after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. He said Malaysia's close ties with both nations placed it in a position to support steps towards ensuring peace and stability in the region. Indian MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, who was on an official trip to Malaysia last week, said the conflict was strictly between the two nations and required no foreign mediation. However, Pakistan's high commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah welcomed Anwar's offer, saying the prime minister was highly respected in both countries. Earlier today, Anwar said Malaysia only hopes for a peaceful resolution in the dispute.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
UNRWA slams Israeli ban on foreign media access to Gaza
ANKARA: Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), on Saturday condemned Israel's ongoing ban on international journalists entering Gaza, calling it an unprecedented act in modern conflict. 'This is unprecedented in any other conflict in modern history,' Lazzarini said in a statement, Anadolu Ajansı reported. 'It is a ban on the truth. It is a ban on reporting the facts. It is the perfect recipe to fuel misinformation, deepening polarisation and dehumanisation.' He stressed the importance of allowing independent reporting and supporting local journalists: 'International journalists must independently report from Gaza and support their Palestinian colleagues who continue to do a heroic job at a heavy price.' 'Nearly 200 of them have been reported killed since the war began,' said Lazzarini, stressing that 'the ban on international media must be lifted.' Meanwhile, UNRWA on Saturday reiterated its call for cooperation from the Israeli government over allegations made against the agency, stating that no credible evidence has been provided despite repeated requests. 'UNRWA has repeatedly requested cooperation and evidence from Israel regarding the serious allegations made against the agency,' the agency said in an official statement. 'After 20 months, UNRWA has not received any response, nor has the Government of Israel shared any sufficient evidence.' The agency emphasised its continued commitment to its humanitarian mandate, stating: 'UNRWA remains committed to its mandate and is ready to deliver humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza, together with other UN agencies.' Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants.
