SHAH ALAM – In light of the recent bloodshed in Gaza, Malaysian political figures have expressed their concerns and perspectives on the impact of these events on Malaysia and the international community.
Political analyst Professor Datuk Dr P Sivamurugan highlighted the significant impact of Israel's atrocities on Malaysia, particularly due to its identity as a Muslim-majority nation.
He urged for a broader perspective that transcends religious affiliations, focusing on peace, justice and humanity.
"The loss of women and children in these inhuman act is particularly tragic and calls for a humanitarian approach," Sivamurugan said in the Sana Sini podcast aired recently.
He also highlighted the need for educational initiatives in schools that promote understanding of such crises on a humanitarian level, allowing children of all backgrounds to grasp the severity of the situation.
Sivamurugan further noted the potential global economic repercussions of the conflict, particularly for Muslim countries.
"The Al-Aqsa Mosque holds significant religious importance and the ongoing colonisation could lead to global repercussions," he added.
He also expressed concerns about the limited ability of Muslim countries to respond militarily due to the influence of major world powers.
Former MIC Youth chief Senator Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran also shared his insights, describing the ongoing colonisation as particularly detrimental to the economy.
He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of United Nations' resolutions, citing Israel's historical non-compliance.
Sivarraajh questioned the lack of military response from Muslim countries surrounding Palestine and commended Malaysia's Prime Minister for his firm stance on the issue.
On Palestinian Solidarity Week held in government schools, Sivamurugan clarified that "some schools" possibly got carried away with their initiatives, expressing concern over the videos and images which went viral recently.
The footage that went viral showed some students and teachers carrying toy rifles.
"The Prime Minister and Education Minister have stressed that the focus should be on humanitarianism and justice, not extremism.
"It's not about the ministries’ instructions, but rather certain schools possibly getting carried away with their initiatives," he said.
Sivarraajh also slammed the use of toy guns during the Palestinian solidarity week in schools, suggesting it might not have been an appropriate symbolic gesture, though possibly an isolated incident.
He related the situation in Palestine to the experiences of Indians in Malaysia, drawing parallels with the former wars in Sri Lanka.
"There is a shared understanding of such conflicts among the Indian community in Malaysia, given our historical context with Sri Lanka," he added.