Real change for Palestine requires action from Asean governments

KUALA LUMPUR - Achieving meaningful change for Palestine necessitates proactive government involvement, with Asean nations urged to exert political and economic pressure to support the cause.

Former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang or better known as Tian Chua said if Israel claimed it could not negotiate with those who did not acknowledge its existence, it should look to Taiwan as an example.

He said despite being unrecognised by many, Taiwan has established its status through trade and diplomacy rather than resorting to violence and bombing everyone else.

"Asia holds valuable lessons and should assert itself in global discourse, rather than passively allowing Western powers like the European Union and the United States shape world order.

"While Asia has contributed significantly to humanitarian aid and refugee support, it is time to elevate our influence beyond that," he said at the Conference on Palestine: Exploring Asian Perspective held at Universiti Malaya on Monday.

The former PKR vice-president added that after World War II, "genocide" was defined to mean the systematic destruction of people and nowhere was this more evident than in Palestine, where millions endured forced displacement or death.

This, he said was not confined to a single town or region but affected an entire population under systematic oppression, making it crucial to move beyond passive strategies after so many years.

"We have seen citizens protest, boycott and support Palestinian rights, yet real change requires government action.

"Asian governments must apply political and economic pressure, using sanctions and boycotts as the West has done to influence global affairs, even as they freely impose sanctions on half the world's population.

"Why should we follow trade systems that allow others to profit while we continue to prioritise "national interest" over justice?," he said.

Tian Chua said Malaysia, together with Asean, should use its economic influence to advocate for Palestinian liberation.

He said beyond providing food and medicine, meaningful support for the Palestinian cause required resources like weapons.

"I am not suggesting that we fight a war, but no liberation movements can be sustained without weapons.

"For example, if Malaysia and other countries were just to announce that we will be arming Palestine, then you will see how all these hypocritical countries will respond publicly.

"We should not shy away from economic or even military pressures if the West continues to arm Israel. A stance on providing support for Palestinian defence would challenge the hypocrisy of countries that prioritise arms sales to Israel but discourage others from supporting Palestine.

"By doing so, we create leverage for a more balanced approach, asking the West to halt their military aid to Israel if they expect others to refrain from escalation," he added.

Tian Chua highlighted that Palestine was the last colonised territory, yet most leaders lacked political courage for real change.

He added that small nations have historically made powerful changes, from dismantling apartheid in South Africa to resolving the Cambodian conflict.

"Malaysia, far from being insignificant, can lead and shape this global order.

"Sixty years of aid, rallies and symbolic efforts have not resolved the issue. We must think beyond simply sending food and medical aid. This is not enough and it is time to change this," he said.