KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Malaysia must carefully consider a proposal by several countries for it to co-chair The Hague Group alongside South Africa, given legal constraints and its status as a non-party to relevant international conventions, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said accepting the role would raise questions about Malaysia’s participation in international legal instruments, including the Rome Statute, which he said could potentially conflict with the Federal Constitution.
He said the proposal followed Malaysia’s active involvement in the group, an international platform aimed at increasing pressure on Israel over the Palestinian issue.
“We must consider this carefully because Malaysia is not a state party to the convention. Therefore, we cannot become a co-chair.
“For now, it is sufficient for Malaysia to remain a co-sponsor and principal sponsor,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in reply to Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) on Malaysia’s efforts to increase international pressure on Israel over the Palestinian conflict.
Mohamad said Malaysia had also joined South Africa as a co-sponsor at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to intensify pressure on Israel, including efforts to bring the matter before the UN Security Council (UNSC).
He also noted that international support for the Palestinian cause was growing, including among countries that previously maintained close ties with Israel.
He said about 160 countries now supported Palestine’s admission as a UN member, reflecting a shift in international attitudes towards the issue.
Malaysia, he stressed, remained steadfast in defending Palestinian rights and continued to raise the issue through the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Asean and other multilateral platforms.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also consistently raised the Palestinian issue in meetings with world leaders and at international forums, including BRICS and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
Meanwhile, Mohamad reiterated Malaysia’s call for UNSC reform, particularly restrictions on the use of veto power, which he described as an obstacle to resolving the Palestinian conflict.
He said majority support for Palestine-related resolutions would achieve little if permanent UNSC members continued to block them through their veto powers.
“We need to restructure the UNSC so that veto power cannot be used arbitrarily,” he said.
On humanitarian assistance, Mohamad said contributions from Malaysians through the Foreign Ministry’s Palestinian Humanitarian Trust Account were channelled to the Palestinians through trusted organisations.
These included the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and non-governmental organisations to ensure aid reached those in need, he added. — Bernama