BDS Movement sets up petition for PM not to attend APEC meeting

SHAH ALAM - Due to America's support for Israel, a petition was initiated by Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not to attend the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The meeting, scheduled from Nov 11 to 17 in San Francisco would be hosted by the United States (US).

BDS chairman Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail in the petition asked the public's support to urge Anwar to withdraw from the APEC meeting.

“The genocide being committed by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza which has killed more than 6,000 innocent lives is due to the American government's unbiased backing for Israel, which it extended through military funding.

"The American government must be made aware that their support in Israel's tyranny against Palestinians cannot be accepted by all Malaysians," said Nazri in his post

He added by boycotting the APEC meeting, Malaysia would apply pressure to the US, demonstrating that the action taken by the States was unacceptable.

Checks on the petition page named ‘Call for the Malaysian PM not to attend the APEC Meeting’ showed that it had garnered a total of 428 signatures with petitioners supported the move to demonstrate that Malaysia takes the matter seriously and would not tolerate any circumstances that involve oppression of other nations.

Among the remarks made by other Facebook users include their stance for Palestine and condemning the brutality of Israel.

A petitioner Aishah Ahmad said "I stand for Palestine and against those who support Israel."

Another petitioner Megat Ahmad Syukri said the move was a sign of support for the people of Gaza who are brutally killed every day.

Meanwhile, Sherry Shahab said "Genocide and apartheid is inhumane and unacceptable. It clearly is a war crime being committed in an unjustly occupied territory and any parties funding/supporting these perpetrators of war crimes are the worst of hypocrites.”