KUALA LUMPUR – PKR’s Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin was yesterday appointed as the vice-chairman for a union for parliamentarians under the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
The Hang Tuah Jaya MP said he received the appointment under the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) following a meeting in Algeria.
“I had represented Malaysia’s Parliament in this meeting whereby I was selected as the PUIC vice-chairman to represent the Asia grouping,” Shamsul said in a statement today.
At the meeting, Shamsul said he highlighted the urgency for OIC parliamentarians to address the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar.
Shamsul said he also touched on the need to consolidate the economies of OIC member states, especially in boosting multilateral relationships as the world grapples with recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other matters he raised include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the urgent need to start cultural diplomacy in order to uphold Islamic values and combat terrorism, Shamsul said.
“I have also supported proposals by Turkey’s parliamentarians who have started providing assistance and immediate action for Muslims who are minorities in non-OIC states, and are not only facing human rights violations but also community attacks fueled by Islamophobia,” he said.
“The meeting ended with the Algiers Declaration that received resounding support by the parliamentarians of OIC who were present.” – The Vibes, March 15, 2022
