By Muhammad Faiz Baharin
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of Malaysia’s initial aid to build a school, hospital, and mosque in Gaza is a forward-looking and strategic move in paving the way for the reconstruction of Palestine.
Geostrategist Prof Dr. Azmi Hassan described the Prime Minister's announcement, made just one week into the first phase of the ceasefire in Palestine, as a bold decision that applies pressure to ensure the agreement continues and is adhered to until the third phase.
The National Professor Council Fellow stated that this also proves that Malaysia's longstanding calls to assist Palestine are not mere rhetoric but backed by meticulous planning and financial resources from the nation's leadership to ensure its feasibility.
"This is evidenced through the collaboration via the co-chairmanship of CEAPAD (Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development) led by Japan, which shows that other countries also recognise our role and efforts in aiding Palestine's reconstruction.
"Japan views Malaysia as an important and influential country in Middle Eastern and Palestinian affairs, as the Prime Minister (Anwar) is known to be vocal in defending Palestinian rights. Therefore, they look to us for support, as relying on Western or European powers might not yield the same focus, given their current emphasis on rebuilding Ukraine," he told Bernama today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today that Malaysia's part in the reconstruction of Gaza and Palestine will be done through a collaboration between its citizens and the private sector.
He said the reconstruction efforts would also involve cooperation between the Japanese and Malaysian governments to establish and launch a fund through an East Asian programme.
Last Sunday, a three-phase ceasefire agreement between the Hamas group and Israel came into effect, with the first phase spanning six weeks. This agreement was reached after more than 460 days of conflict, which caused massive destruction in Gaza and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, international political analyst Prof. Dr. Ahmad Martadha Mohamed described Malaysia's efforts to assist in the reconstruction of Palestine through partnerships with other countries as a proactive and progressive step.
"If we were to act alone, there might be financial constraints. On the other hand, working with other nations will provide greater financial capacity," he said.
Universiti Utara Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni stated that Malaysia has an advantage as the ASEAN Chair and maintains strong relations with member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as well as Arab leaders, allowing it to secure broader support on the matter.
"We can obtain the support of Türkiye, the UAE, and Qatar, as they have substantial financial capacity. The Palestinian issue is a humanitarian one, and on that basis, we can expedite their recovery and exert pressure on Israel.
"Although the ceasefire is only a week old, the announced aid is timely, as refugees have already begun returning to Gaza," he said while commending the Prime Minister's consistent efforts in defending the rights of the Palestinian people despite pressure from the West.
Echoing this view, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Seremban, Political Science senior lecturer, Shahidah Abdul Razak, also welcomed the Malaysian government’s decision to expedite aid for Palestine’s recovery.
"This is a crucial and timely decision by the government, especially in prioritising the healthcare sector over there, which is the most pressing need," said the lecturer from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies.
-- BERNAMA
