00:00So, ladies and gentlemen, history reminds us of the years we had spent in waging war against colonization, fighting tooth
00:11and nail, of course from other parts of the world, but here, Indonesia, Vietnam, to name the rest, against oppressors
00:26to reclaim our lands and independence.
00:30Today, can we in good conscience sit idly while this insidious form of colonization continues to be perpetrated with impunity?
00:49The latest findings of the International Commission of Inquiry of the actions of Israeli security forces since 7th October 2023
00:58reveals a story of untold and unparalleled horror with the systematic, deliberate, and targeted killing of more than 20,000
01:08Palestinian children and the inflicted of grief injury to another 44,000.
01:15To my mind, this has reached a point where even the term genocide does not fully capture the barbarity, depravity,
01:24and sheer evil of these heinous crimes committed by the murderers.
01:30This remains a festering wound in the collective conscience of the world.
01:34The failure to intervene, especially by countries with the power to influence the Zionist regime, has only empowered them to
01:43expand their wars in the region.
01:46Meanwhile, in Europe, the Russo-Ukrainian war continues its grind of death with civilians and public infrastructure, targeted, and huge
01:56loss of life on all sides.
01:58In Sudan, the civil war rages on, largely ignored, ignored by the global community, also with horrific atrocities documented against
02:10non-combatants, some targeted based on tribe or ethnicity.
02:15So, let us be clear, such violence and brutality, whether in Europe, West Asia, or Africa, must come to an
02:27end with a cessation of hostilities that prioritizes the protection of civilians.
02:36It appears a bleak future when humankind could otherwise be celebrating tremendous advancement of economic and technological growth.
02:45Most disturbingly, the signs point towards a greater and systematic devaluation of respect of international norms and laws.
02:57Might now makes right, as does narrow national interests, even at the expense of rubbishing the sanctity and legal obligations
03:09of an international contract.
03:12Malaysia learned this lesson recently, when the delivery of naval strike missiles were unilaterally cancelled by the Norwegian supplier.
03:21Despite almost full payment being made, 95% paid.
03:30No way.
03:32So, our position on this, to both the company and the Norwegian government, is crystal clear.
03:37When Malaysia will continue to seek diplomatic and legal remedies, and do so in good faith,
03:42this episode speaks to a larger problem and dangerous trend of double standards
03:48by those who claim to stand by those who claim to stand by the rule of law and the hypocrisy
03:52of those who are conveniently muted on such violations.
03:57It is acceptable for some countries to ignore international laws and norms,
04:02while others are subjected to the strictest standards of compliance.
04:06If this is how partners in the West are going to treat those of us in the global South,
04:14if the principle of one rule for me, another for thee, is indeed the norm they want to put forward,
04:23then it does not put well for our future as equitable partners and friends.
04:29As the old Dutch saying goes,
04:34trust arrives on foot and departs on horseback.
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