KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim calls for the United Nations (UN)' concerted effort to address the issues among the Islamic countries.
Speaking as the prime minister at his first UN General Assembly, Anwar urged the UN to address several critical issues, including the ongoing situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the urgent need to combat Islamophobia.
He denounced the construction of illegal settlements on Palestinian land, emphasising that this flagrant violation of international law obstructs the path to a two-state solution and perpetuates violence against Palestinians.
"The politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them.
"This constitutes a gross violation of international law and poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued loss of lives."
Anwar also called out the international community's hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine.
"There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine.
"The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice and abusive regimes."
Anwar also expressed concerns over the humanitarian situation that befell Afghanistan, reaffirming Malaysia's commitment to maintaining people-to-people relations with the country, including providing humanitarian aid.
However, he also called on the Afghan authorities to reverse their exclusionary and discriminatory policies against women and girls, emphasising that denying their right to education violates Islamic principles.
"However, we remain resolute and firm in our call on the authority of Afghanistan to reverse their exclusionary and discriminatory policies against women and girls.
"Denying their right to go to school is a violation of the teachings of Islam, not to mention the United Nations Charter and the multilateral framework of human rights.
Anwar had also expressed his worries towards the rise of Islamophobia, describing it as a new form of racism.
"This is manifested in an alarming trend of hatred, intolerance, and acts of violence against Muslims and their sanctities.
"We are appalled by the legitimisation of these acts under the feeble defence of human rights.
"Quran burnings are nothing but a clear Islamophobic act intended to incite hatred.
"Inaction in the face of such blatant provocation to a religion is simply irresponsible and sends a dangerous message to humanity."
He added that everyone must embody the values of acceptance, tolerance and mutual respect.
"We must promote inter-cultural,inter-civilisation, and inter-religious understanding and cooperation.
"We must unite our faiths in common cause to promote understanding and goodwill among our peoples and strengthen peace and harmony among nations," he said.