A GROUP of 38 MPs and 36 activists and civil society groups yesterday handed over diplomatic protest notes to the United States and the United Kingdom governments as well as the European Union over the escalating war in Gaza.
The notes were sent to the respective missions in Kuala Lumpur.
Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar presented the note to the US government, addressed to its KL deputy chief of mission Manu Bhalla.
Syed Ibrahim also handed over the note addressed to UK High Commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry.
He was accompanied by Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik to submit the note addressed to EU head of delegation to Malaysia Michalis Rokas.
The protest note to the US expressed concern over Washington’s plan to provide US$14.5 billion (RM67.6 billion) in military aid for Israel’s war crimes in Palestine. This is on top of the US$3.8 billion in foreign military aid Israel has received yearly since 2019 from the US, which accounted for 16% of Israel’s total military budget in 2022.
“We demand that the American government support an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire. We ask that the American government stop all direct and indirect military aid to Israel,” the protest note to the US government said.
In the protest note to the UK, the group described as “abhorrent” the British government’s continued direct and indirect military support of Israel’s war crimes in Palestine.
The note expressed deep concern over reports that British nationals might be present as combatants alongside Israeli forces in Gaza.
It condemned the sales of arms, the provision of military advisers, and logistical support, including military surveillance flights over Israel and Gaza to provide intelligence to Israel.
The group demanded the British government halt all direct and indirect military aid to Israel while applauding the UK parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee for investigating the British government’s support for Israel.
In the protest note to the EU, the group singled out European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen over her immediate unilateral declaration of “Europe stands with Israel” following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
It chastised von der Leyen’s decision to hastily suspend funds to Palestine after October 7, only to reinstate them after facing severe public backlash.
“We demand that EU states immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment, assistance and ammunition to Israel. Together, EU nations are Israel’s main suppliers of military systems and equipment, behind only the US,” the note said.
All three notes demanded the US, UK and EU support an immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire, especially in light of the United Nations secretary-general’s invocation of article 99 of the UN Charter.
For the first time in 25 years, article 99 has been invoked in alarm at the global security threat posed by Israel’s destruction of Gaza. – The Vibes, December 9, 2023
The signatories of the notes are as follows:
MPs
1. Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh – Ledang
2. Wong Chen – Subang
3. Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik – Balik Pulau
4. Sim Tze Tzin – Bayan Baru
5. Rodziah Ismail – Ampang
6. Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani – Titiwangsa
7. Lee Chean Chung – Petaling Jaya
8. Isnaraissah Munirah Majlis – Kota Belud
9. Jimmy Puah – Tebrau
10. Young Syefura Othman – Bentong
11. Noraini Ahmad – Parit Sulong
12. Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien – Julau
13. Onn Abu Bakar – Batu Pahat
14. Azli Yusof – Shah Alam
15. Tan Kar Hing – Gopeng
16. Zahir Hassan – Wangsa Maju
17. Sheikh Mohmed Puzi Sheikh Ali – Pekan
18. Syahredzan Johan – Bangi
19. Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad – Kuala Selangor
20. Yeo Bee Yin – Puchong
21. Hassan Abdul Karim – Pasir Gudang
22. Kesavan Subramaniam – Sungai Siput
23. Mohd Shahar Abdullah – Paya Besar
24. Prabakaran Parameswaran – Batu
25. Aminolhuda Hassan – Sri Gading
26. Chong Zhemin – Kampar
27. Mohammed Taufiq Johari – Sungai Petani
28. Chiew Choon Man – Miri
29. Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail – Bandar Tun Razak
30. Fadhlina Sidek – Nibong Tebal
31. Dr Zaliha Mustafa – Sekijang
32. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said – Pengerang
33. Liew Chin Tong – Iskandar Puteri
34. Fahmi Fadzil – Lembah Pantai
35. Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan – Segambut
36. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah – Indera Mahkota
37. Datuk Muhammad Haji Alamin – Kimanis
38. Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir (senator)
Activists and civil society groups
39. Nurul Izzah Anwar (political activist)
40. Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (political activist)
41. Mohideen Abdul Kader (Citizens International)
42. Dr Yolanda Augustin (healthcare activist)
43. Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief
44. Persatuan Gerakan Amal Bersama
45. Global Peace Mission Malaysia
46. Malaysia for Syria
47. Syria Care
48. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia
49. Haluan Malaysia
50. AvaProject
51. Viva Palestina Malaysia
52. BDS Malaysia
53. RED A Humanitarian Development Global
54. BeVital
55. MyCorps Alumni
56. Pertubuhan Sekretariat Kemanusiaan Sejagat Malaysia
57. MyAqsa Defenders
58. Yayasan Amal Malaysia
59. Humanitarian Care Malaysia
60. Muslim Care Malaysia
61. Malaysian Women Coalition for Al Quds and Palestine
62. Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan lslam Malaysia
63. Cinta Syria Malaysia
64. Ihsan Johor Relief
65. Malaysian Relief Agency
66. Persatuan Cinta Gaza Malaysia
67. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Sejagat Malaysia
68. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Sanggar Suri Malaysia
69. Persatuan Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia
70. Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia
71. Persatuan Bekas Pelajar MRSM Malaysia
72. Social & Economic Research Initiative
73. Iman Research
74. Persekutuan Seni Silat Cekak Pusaka Ustaz Hanafi Malaysia – The Vibes, December 9, 2023.
