Malaysia cautious over proposal to co-chair The Hague Group, says Tok Mat

Malaysia is considering a proposal to co-chair The Hague Group with South Africa due to legal constraints and its non-party status to international conventions.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan highlighted Malaysia's commitment to intensifying pressure on Israel through various international platforms, despite not being a co-chair.

Malaysia supports Palestinian rights and calls for UNSC reform to prevent veto power from hindering resolutions, while continuing to provide humanitarian assistance.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Malaysia must carefully consider a proposal by several countries for it to co-chair The Hague Group alongside South Africa, given legal constraints and its status as a non-party to relevant international conventions, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said accepting the role would raise questions about Malaysia’s participation in international legal instruments, including the Rome Statute, which he said could potentially conflict with the Federal Constitution.

He said the proposal followed Malaysia’s active involvement in the group, an international platform aimed at increasing pressure on Israel over the Palestinian issue.

“We must consider this carefully because Malaysia is not a state party to the convention. Therefore, we cannot become a co-chair.

“For now, it is sufficient for Malaysia to remain a co-sponsor and principal sponsor,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in reply to Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) on Malaysia’s efforts to increase international pressure on Israel over the Palestinian conflict.

Mohamad said Malaysia had also joined South Africa as a co-sponsor at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to intensify pressure on Israel, including efforts to bring the matter before the UN Security Council (UNSC).

He also noted that international support for the Palestinian cause was growing, including among countries that previously maintained close ties with Israel.

He said about 160 countries now supported Palestine’s admission as a UN member, reflecting a shift in international attitudes towards the issue.

Malaysia, he stressed, remained steadfast in defending Palestinian rights and continued to raise the issue through the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Asean and other multilateral platforms.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also consistently raised the Palestinian issue in meetings with world leaders and at international forums, including BRICS and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).

Meanwhile, Mohamad reiterated Malaysia’s call for UNSC reform, particularly restrictions on the use of veto power, which he described as an obstacle to resolving the Palestinian conflict.

He said majority support for Palestine-related resolutions would achieve little if permanent UNSC members continued to block them through their veto powers.

“We need to restructure the UNSC so that veto power cannot be used arbitrarily,” he said.

On humanitarian assistance, Mohamad said contributions from Malaysians through the Foreign Ministry’s Palestinian Humanitarian Trust Account were channelled to the Palestinians through trusted organisations.

These included the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and non-governmental organisations to ensure aid reached those in need, he added. — Bernama

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由于法律限制以及马来西亚非国际公约缔约国的地位，马来西亚正在考虑与南非共同担任海牙集团主席国的提议。

尽管马来西亚并非联合主席国，但外交部长穆罕默德·哈桑强调，马来西亚致力于通过各种国际平台加大对以色列的压力。

马来西亚支持巴勒斯坦人的权利，并呼吁联合国安理会进行改革，以防止否决权阻碍决议的通过，同时继续提供人道主义援助。

吉隆坡，10 月 13 日——马来西亚下议院今天获悉，鉴于法律限制以及马来西亚并非相关国际公约的缔约国，马来西亚必须认真考虑几个国家提出的与南非共同担任海牙集团主席国的提议。

外交部长拿督斯里莫哈末哈山表示，接受这一角色将引发人们对马来西亚参与国际法律文书（包括《罗马规约》）的质疑，他认为这可能与联邦宪法相冲突。

他表示，该提议是在马来西亚积极参与该组织之后提出的，该组织是一个旨在加大对以色列在巴勒斯坦问题上施压的国际平台。

“我们必须认真考虑这个问题，因为马来西亚不是该公约的缔约国。因此，我们不能成为联合主席国。”

“就目前而言，马来西亚只需继续担任共同提案国和主要提案国即可，”他在部长质询时间回答拿督穆罕默德·巴赫蒂亚尔·万·奇克（希望联盟-浮罗山背）关于马来西亚为加大国际社会对以色列在巴勒斯坦冲突问题上的施压力度所做的努力时说道。

穆罕默德表示，马来西亚也与南非一起作为共同提案国参加了最近的联合国大会，以加大对以色列的压力，包括努力将此事提交联合国安理会。

他还指出，国际社会对巴勒斯坦事业的支持正在增长，其中包括以前与以色列保持密切关系的国家。

他表示，目前约有 160 个国家支持巴勒斯坦加入联合国，这反映出国际社会对这一问题的态度发生了转变。

他强调，马来西亚将继续坚定捍卫巴勒斯坦人的权利，并通过联合国、伊斯兰合作组织、东盟和其他多边平台继续提出这一问题。

首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣也曾在与世界各国领导人的会晤以及金砖国家和亚太经济合作组织（APEC）等国际论坛上持续提出巴勒斯坦问题。

与此同时，穆罕默德重申了马来西亚对联合国安理会改革的呼吁，特别是限制否决权的使用，他认为否决权是解决巴勒斯坦冲突的障碍。

他表示，如果安理会常任理事国继续利用否决权阻挠与巴勒斯坦有关的决议，那么即使多数人支持这些决议也收效甚微。

他说：“我们需要重组联合国安理会，以防止否决权被任意使用。”

关于人道主义援助，穆罕默德表示，马来西亚人通过外交部巴勒斯坦人道主义信托账户提供的捐款，会通过值得信赖的组织转交给巴勒斯坦人。

他补充说，这些机构包括联合国近东巴勒斯坦难民救济和工程处（近东救济工程处）和非政府组织，以确保援助物资能够送达有需要的人手中。——马新社

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