MUAFAKAT Nasional chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa expressed his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s initiative to help rebuild Gaza in collaboration with the Japanese government.
In the same breath, the PKR-Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin shared his support for Anwar’s decision to help rebuild Gaza, despite some criticism that Malaysia should prioritise its own needs first.
Annuar urged that political differences should not prevent support for good initiatives, emphasising that efforts to rebuild Gaza should be seen positively.
“Just because we don’t like the government or the leader, does that mean we must reject everything? What’s wrong with saying what’s good is good and what’s bad is bad? Hatred must have its limits,” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Feb 1).
Annuar highlighted that the Gaza region has suffered extensive damage to vital infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, due to the conflict.
He also responded to critics, like former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who called for focusing on domestic issues first. Annuar asserted that rebuilding Gaza was essential for restoring normalcy and helping the Palestinian people.
As for Sim, he emphasised Malaysia’s historical role in international humanitarian efforts, such as in Bosnia Herzegovina, Timor Leste, Aceh, and Cox’s Bazar, and argued that Malaysia must continue to contribute globally especially as it advances towards becoming a high-income nation.
Sim pointed out that rebuilding Gaza is a manageable goal for Malaysia and would also enhance its international standing. He highlighted that a stable Gaza is beneficial to Malaysia’s long-term interests, particularly in maintaining stable oil prices and shipping routes in the Middle East.
Ultimately, Sim praised Anwar’s leadership especially as other major powers retreat from international duties, and called for support of his efforts.
“Malaysia must now contribute to the development of the world. Although we will not be able to set up USAID with US$50bil annual budget or JICA or OBOR, helping to rebuild a small part of Gaza is within our capabilities.
“After all, all major powers in the world will pour in their money to rebuild Gaza. Gaza will be the biggest international rebuilding effort,” Sim said. — Feb 1, 2025
Main photo credit: Bernama
