Pm Us Among Others Tried To Pressure Malaysia Over Palestine Issue

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PARLIAMENT | The United States was among those who had mounted pressure on Malaysia in regard to the latter's stance on the Palestine issue.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat this morning, where a backbencher sought his explanation on intimidation mounted by pro-Israel countries against Malaysia.
According to Anwar, the US had in three instances pressured Malaysia into reviewing its stance on Hamas after it refused to brand the latter as a terrorist group.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim"Firstly, the US State Department had summoned our ambassador to Washington to question our position regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel, particularly on Israel's atrocity in Gaza.
"But our ambassador had firmly stated our position on this matter.
"And because of our refusal to criticise Hamas and call it terrorist, I was informed by the Foreign Ministry that we have also received 'demarche' from the US Embassy here, twice - one on Oct 13 and another on Oct 30.
"They are asking us not to continue with our position, especially our refusal to brand Hamas as a terrorist organisation," said the prime minister.
Demarche, by definition, refers to a course of political action.
According to a Prime Minister's Office spokesperson, the Malaysian Ambassador to Washington Nazri Aziz was summoned by the US Department on Oct 18.
Malaysian Ambassador to Washington Nazri AzizIt was reported that Nazri made it clear to Washington that Putrajaya would not budge or bow to pressure nor sympathise with Israel.
“How can Malaysia sympathise with those who act without humanity?” Nazri was reported as saying.
The Oct 30 incident involved a visit by the Deputy US ambassador to Kuala Lumpur to the Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general 2.
Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that when the US took the step of demarche, it meant the republic was expressing its concern over Malaysia's stance.
"And they did this not once, but three times. This is why we take it as a form of warning.
"However, we have been firm in our responses to them, especially in regard to (our) relation with Hamas," he said.
During a rally in support of Palestine last week, the prime minister claimed that he had been pressured and even threatened for supporting Gaza and Palestine.
Anwar, however, vowed that he would not bend to such pressure and asserted Malaysia’s sovereignty to support whom it wishes to.
The prime minister had since been pressured by opposition MPs to reveal who had been issuing such threats against him.
- Mkini

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