Malaysia will not join the Board of Peace for Palestine, citing concerns the initiative fails to address Israel’s illegal occupation and the conflict’s root causes.

PETALING JAYA: The government has reaffirmed that Malaysia will not join the Board of Peace for Palestine for now, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

In a written reply to the Dewan Negara, he said Malaysia supports global efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in Palestine, but maintained that such peace must be grounded in international law and address the fundamental causes of the conflict.

“In this regard, Malaysia remains consistent in its position not to participate in the Board of Peace at this juncture, citing the lack of clarity on whether the initiative will directly and promptly address the root causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“This includes Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and the continued violations of international law by the Zionist regime,” he said in response to Senator Datuk Shamsuddin Abd Ghaffar who asked about Malaysia’s position and involvement in the initiative.

Mohamad said Malaysia respects the sovereign decisions of fellow Asean member states, including Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam, which have joined the Board of Peace based on their respective national considerations.

He emphasised that sustainable peace can only be realised through an inclusive and comprehensive settlement, including the protection of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to statehood, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of return.

“While acknowledging that many countries have pledged significant commitments towards the development and reconstruction of Gaza, the government expressed concern that the initiative does not sufficiently focus on securing an end to Israel’s illegal occupation or advancing the two-state solution.”

Mohamad said Malaysia also underscored that peacebuilding efforts should be pursued through inclusive and transparent multilateral mechanisms based on international consensus, particularly through recognised platforms such as the United Nations and established regional cooperation frameworks.

 The Sun Malaysia