MALAYSIA’S affection towards the plight of Palestinians with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim openly championing the “Free Palestine” cause in what he claimed to be “on humanitarian grounds” has sadly sparked paranoia if not divided Malaysians to a certain degree as the nation ushered in its 67th Merdeka anniversary on Saturday (Aug 31).
The latest incident entails allegation that Palestinian flag was flown during the National Day parade.by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) which required Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching to clear the air that the flag in question is that of the TUDM flag,
“Let’s stop spreading lies and misinformation and focus on the true spirit of Hari Kebangsaan – unity. Please do your research before sharing anything online<” the Kulai MP and Wanita DAP chief penned on her Facebook page.
At the outset, this may sound like an optical illusion/deception but it is not. Rather, this is very much an emotional expression – a mix of anger and confused state of mind – to find fault with anything Palestinian.
The main image of the old Indian man berating the Jalur Gemilang which was placed side-by-side the Palestinian flag to commemorate the recent Merdeka Day illustrates this point.
Obviously, he has every citizenry right to be angry but the painful truth is this stems from the inability of especially non-Muslim Malaysians to comprehend why so much priority has been diverted to the Palestinian cause.
Or why Putrajaya took so much pain to fly in injured Palestinians for treatment when many Orang Asli folks in rural Sabah are deprived of proper healthcare facilities. Logically, shouldn’t charity start from one’s own home?
Recall the raising of the Palestinian flag tifo alongside the Negaraku during the recent FA Cup final between Selangor and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
Furore was expressed for disrespecting the national anthem but the underlying tone is that many non-Muslim Malaysians are still unable to accept or fathom the Madani government’s sympathetic stance towards the Palestinian cause.
Such sentiment has since expanded to East Malaysia even with prominent activist Peter John Jaban having urged the Sarawak state government to guard its immigration autonomy “as the first wave of injured Palestinian and their family members has landed at the Subang Air Force base (on Aug 16)”.
Sadly, non-Muslim Malaysians are still wary of the policy towards Palestinians despite assurances that there will be no second medical mission and that the Palestinian ‘medical tourists’ will return to their homeland after treatment.
Jaban aside, voices of opposition from Bornean activists towards Putrajaya’s pro-Palestinian stance have grown louder as evident from the displeasure conveyed to PMX by Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation president Daniel John Jambun and permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) for Dayak International Organisation Datuk Patinggi Andrew Ambrose Atama Katama.
Despite PMX having explained and ticked off detractors as “extremely rude” for not understanding his ‘borderless’ humanitarian agenda to ease the sufferings of Palestinians in light of genocide by the Zionist forces, many non-Muslims remain unconvinced of PMX’s rationale.
Pitted against the backdrop that the Palestinian cause can potentially divide Malaysians as evident from recent “flag-related” events, it is hope that the low-profile National Unity Ministry will quickly spring to action by finding a remedy to restore cordial ties among the multi-racial and multi-faith Malaysians. – Sept 3, 2024
