00:00Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Speaker.
00:05I think that ASEAN is lucky to have Malaysia as its 2025 CEO.
00:12If we look at the relationship between the United States and China,
00:17and the Trump era,
00:21Malaysia is a country that has demonstrated its ability to maintain centrality.
00:27Both countries are very important trading partners and investment partners in Malaysia.
00:35My question to you, Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker-in-Chief.
00:39You mentioned the emerging geopolitical challenges.
00:43What are the specific geopolitical challenges
00:47so that the members of the House of Representatives can understand
00:50the expectations for us to lay the foundation of what is right and what is the readiness of Malaysia?
00:56At the same time, Mr. Speaker-in-Chief,
00:58what is Malaysia's reaction to the conflict outside ASEAN,
01:03outside the ASEAN area,
01:05such as the ban on forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza
01:10who are opposed to the establishment of Malaysia,
01:13who support the re-migration of Gaza?
01:16Thank you, Mr. Speaker-in-Chief.
01:18Before the Minister answers,
01:21I want to give time to the Minister
01:24because this is an important issue.
01:26First, we are the chairman of ASEAN.
01:31It is better for all of our MPs to understand
01:36what is happening in ASEAN
01:39so that when we leave tomorrow,
01:41even now, we are the judges.
01:43Let's not not understand what ASEAN is.
01:46Secondly, I think I have heard a lot
01:49that has been discussed about the actions of the US government
01:56and the new leadership of the US
01:59which is a bit controversial.
02:01So I think it is good for the Minister to take this opportunity
02:05to inform our final position
02:08so that we are prepared for what will happen.
02:11Please take a little time, Minister.
02:15Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker-in-Chief,
02:18for giving time to the government
02:21to explain the additional questions from the audience.
02:28First, regarding the geopolitical and economic issues
02:34that are unstable in the world today.
02:37The equilibrium of security has not been the same as before.
02:44The existence of new multipolarism, new blocs,
02:49and various issues that have been brought up,
02:53especially with the existence of many governments
02:58after the 2024 election.
03:012024 is a year of many elections around the world,
03:05especially in European countries.
03:09And these countries, their election results,
03:13all of them, have been biased towards the ultra-right.
03:22And when this happens,
03:25the security and stability that was done in the past,
03:30such as bilateral agreements, multilateralism agreements,
03:36all of them have been shaken and shaken.
03:39Because there are new governments established
03:43by new administration leaders
03:46who do not care about the external bases
03:50that have been done by their countries
03:53and have become a barrier to bilateral relations
03:57or multilateral relations.
03:59So this is a global geopolitical problem
04:04that is now being challenged.
04:06So Malaysia, as the leader of ASEAN,
04:09is responsible for promoting our ASEAN.
04:13That's why I said earlier,
04:15ASEAN needs to be better,
04:18ASEAN needs to be more united,
04:21and our success is our strength.
04:25ASEAN is strong because we are successful.
04:27ASEAN is strong because we are united.
04:29ASEAN is strong because our bases
04:31do not belong to any country.
04:34Our ASEAN bases are very clear, Mr. Speaker.
04:38We do not belong to any country.
04:40And we have, what do you call it,
04:43ASEAN treaties that clearly show
04:45that we want ASEAN to be free.
04:48As you know, this ASEAN declaration,
04:50the Bangkok Declaration, clearly states
04:52that we are free from nuclear weapons.
04:55We are free from anything.
04:57So we need to maintain this,
05:00and we need to reorganize this
05:02so that the world can see ASEAN
05:05as a safe and prosperous region,
05:09as a stronghold for the world
05:13to see that, as I said earlier,
05:16ASEAN's economic potential is very big.
05:20That's why one of our guiding principles
05:23as the leader of ASEAN this year,
05:26we want trade and investment
05:29between ASEAN countries to be increased.
05:33Because this is our strength.
05:35Mr. Speaker, we clearly state
05:39that ASEAN's position is clear,
05:42especially in international issues.
05:46Our position states that ASEAN
05:49and Malaysia as the leaders of this year,
05:51we say that we do not agree
05:54with any form of violation of international law.
05:58We do not agree with any form of violation
06:01of international treaties.
06:03We do not agree with any form of violation
06:05of human rights,
06:07the Geneva Convention, etc.
06:09or international treaties.
06:11We clearly state that ASEAN and Malaysia
06:14as the leaders of this year,
06:16we state that ASEAN does not agree
06:19with any form of action
06:22that clearly violates human rights
06:26or violates international treaties
06:29or international law.
06:31So, the declaration to expel the Palestinians
06:36from Gaza is something that we strongly disagree with.
06:41And we clearly state,
06:43Malaysia clearly states,
06:45that this morning,
06:46Mr. Vice President Wisma Putra,
06:48as the Speaker of the Malaysian Government,
06:50we have issued a statement
06:52stating that we are against and disagree
06:55with the proposal to expel the Palestinians
06:58by force.
07:00Because the Palestinians,
07:03the Palestinians themselves have stated
07:06that they do not want to leave their homeland.
07:09As I explained at the end of the month
07:11in this noble council, Mr. Putra.
07:13And we have discussed many times in this council
07:16that Malaysia supports the Palestinian struggle
07:21We support the Palestinian struggle
07:24to get their right to a free country.
07:27That is our struggle.
07:29And we support it.
07:30We do not support it because of other issues.
07:33So, it is against our support so far,
07:37the support of the international community so far,
07:40the resolutions of the united nations so far
07:44that state that the Palestinians have the right
07:47to get their own free country.
07:51Which way, that is up to you.
07:53If the best two-state solution for the moment,
07:56by all means, with permission.
07:58Because we have no other way yet.
08:00So, we will support and we reject the force.
08:03We firmly insist, Mr. Putra,
08:06that what has been suggested,
08:09what has been said,
08:11is something beyond the noble mind.
08:16And it goes against all conventions,
08:20all treaties, and all international treaties.
08:23And this, Malaysia has stated firmly
08:27and as the chairman of ASEAN,
08:29I have been together with ASEAN colleagues
08:32that we do not agree with this.
08:35So, Mr. Putra, we will also issue a statement with ASEAN.
08:39Because ASEAN, we cannot go out as easily.
08:42Because ASEAN is a bloc that needs consensus.
08:46We need a circle of voice
08:49if we want to make a decision.
08:51Even if we want to make a statement.
08:53So, we will issue it.
08:55But Malaysia has stated firmly this morning,
08:58it will be broadcast or issued
09:01that we do not agree
09:03and we reject an unreasonable suggestion
09:06to force the Palestinians
09:09from the Gaza Strip
09:11to leave or be placed in a third country.
09:13Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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