The opposition has called for a special session of the Dewan Rakyat to discuss President Donald Trump’s stunning proposal to “take over” the Gaza Strip and expel millions of Palestinians, a plan that drew immediate condemnation from an Umno minister.
“Crazy,” Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told MalaysiaNow in a one-word reaction to Trump’s announcement made during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington today.
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Trump’s latest plan amounted to “complete ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians adding that it was a declaration of war against Muslims and humanity.
“We at Perikatan Nasional call for a special session of the Dewan Rakyat as soon as possible, possibly together with Dewan Negara, to discuss the future of Palestine,” he said.
Saifuddin also reminded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government to sever all ties with entities that support Israel, referring to the controversy surrounding the privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB).
Anwar has defended his decision to invite Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a firm owned by controversial US fund manager BlackRock, to be part of a consortium to run MAHB, dismissing vocal protests against the deal from pro-Palestine groups who point out the firm’s role in bolstering Israel’s economy and defence industry.
Saifuddin likened Malaysia’s support for the Palestinians to how the previous US administration under Joe Biden supported Israel’s genocidal campaign while at the same time handing out humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
“We are becoming like Biden. The left hand is giving money to help the people of Gaza, (just as) our left hand is helping the Palestinians.
“The right hand facilitating BlackRock,” he said.
Echoing him at a press conference later, PN MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal urged Putrajaya to state its stance on Trump’s proposal.
“The opposition has repeatedly called on the government to convene a special session, but each time this has been rejected by the speaker on untenable grounds.
“This is a moment that calls for courage from Parliament and the speaker to convene a special session as these are issues of common interest,” the Machang MP said.
Wan Fayhsal, who has been at the forefront of protests against the MAHB deal, also warned that companies like BlackRock are likely to be part of Trump’s latest plan.
Speaking alongside Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since his comeback, Trump held out the prospect of a complete redevelopment of Gaza after expelling the nearly two million Palestinians living there to neighbouring Arab states, adding that the territory should be transformed into “the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” he said.
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings,.
“As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece that we’re going to develop it,” he said as quoted by CNN.
In response to the plan, Netanyahu said it was worth “paying attention to”.
“He sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so many attacks against us, so many trials and so many tribulations,” Netanyahu said.