KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue maintaining warm diplomatic relations with other nations, but will not compromise its stand against injustices towards the oppressed, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
He said the country’s foreign policy involving Palestine has never changed since Malaysia gained its independence on Aug 31, 1957.
“While Malaysia wants to be friends with all countries and respect their sovereignty regardless of their ideological beliefs, it must continue to speak against injustices and in defending the rights of the oppressed.
“Malaysia's foreign policy towards Palestine has remained the same for decades (since) we became independent.
“We will always support Palestine. The Palestinian Declaration of Independence (announced) the establishment of the State of Palestine on Nov 15, 1988.
“Many countries, including Malaysia, promptly acknowledged it,” said Dr Mahathir in his speech at the Third Conference of The League of Parliamentarians For Al-Quds here, today.
Present at the ceremony launching the two-day conference were Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also the organising committee adviser for the event; and the League of Parliamentarians For Al-Quds president Sheikh Hamid Abdullah Al-Ahmar.
Also in attendance was a delegation of eight Turkish Members of Parliament led by Hasan Turan, who is also the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TNGA) Administrative Chief.
Dr Mahathir later told reporters that Malaysia will continue to uphold justice and the rule of law.
“We, as Members of Parliament in Malaysia, together with Members of Parliament in other parts of the world, will uphold justice and the rule of law.
“And justice and the rule of law demand that for any plan for any country, that particular country must be consulted,” he added.