Anwar and KEADILAN’s stand on ‘Zionist’ aggression clear
By Jonson Chong, PKR Communications Director
The plight of the Palestinian people and the role of the ‘Zionist’ government of Israel is a matter of international and humanitarian concern, not a matter for Malaysian politicians to score points with the Malay-Muslim electorate. The prime concern of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) has always been, and will always be, the fair and humanitarian treatment of all Malaysians and also the downtrodden peoples of other nations.
Four Umno leaders have voiced their opinions on Anwar Ibrahim’s stand on Zionist aggression, especially in light of The Washington Post article that was published recently. These Umno leaders — Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, Information Minister Rais Yatim and Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin — are jumping at the opportunity to distort the words of the writer, who wrote:
He [Anwar] said he regretted using terms such as “Zionist aggression,” which are common coin for demagogues like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “Why do I need to use it if it causes so much misunderstanding?” he said. “I need to be more careful.”
In case these Umno leaders cannot comprehend proper English, what that means is that Anwar regrets using terms which demagogues like controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad use, especially when it causes a misunderstanding in the international community. Anwar then humbly concedes he needs to be more careful in how he criticizes Israel’s Zionist government, in light of the fact that accusations of anti-semitism are rampant.
Nevertheless, the stand of Anwar Ibrahim and KEADILAN on ‘Zionist’ aggression towards Palestine is crystal clear. We denounce the recent violent attack on the Gaza flotilla, the continued discrimination, repression and brutality against Palestinians by the Israeli government, as well as question the role of the United States of America in supporting the ‘Zionist’ regime. At the same time, we respect the right of all Jews to have a homeland and to live in peace together with Muslim and Christian Palestinians. Indeed, we reject discrimination, repression and brutality both in Malaysia and abroad.
On the insinuations that Anwar is close with American Jews, he has already openly clarified that they are acquaintances from the time he was the Finance Minister of Malaysia. Indeed, Anwar Ibrahim has used every opportunity he could to raise the issue of Palestine and push for a quick resolution of the Middle East dispute.
What has the Umno-led government done? Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi has had a secret meeting with his Israeli counterpart. DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno Youth Chief support PM Najib Razak’s decision to appoint Apco (which has questionable Zionist links) at the rate of RM77 million a year. And, to top it all off, Information Minister Rais Yatim is using his authority to ensure that the mainstream media plays to the tune of Umno-Barisan Nasional, who is now being advised by Apco.
If the Umno-BN government really wants to keep Malaysians informed about the plight of Palestinians and show their stand on ‘Zionist’ aggression, please instruct the mainstream media to translate and publish The Washington Post article in full and arrange for a televised debate betweeen Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Razak. Let all Malaysians see and hear for themselves what Apco is doing in Malaysia.
JONSON CHONG
Communications Director
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Pendirian Anwar dan KEADILAN tentang sikap agresif ‘Zionis’ jelas
Nasib rakyat Palestin dan peranan kerajaan zionis Israel menjadi masalah antarabangsa dan kemanusiaan, dan bukan untuk ahli-ahli politik Malaysia mengambil peluang menawan hati para pengundi Melayu beragama Islam. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) akan sentiasa bersikap adil dan melayan semua rakyat dengan saksama serta rakyat di negara lain yang tertindas.
Empat pemimpin Umno telah menyuarakan pandangan mereka tentang pendirian Anwar Ibrahim berhubung sikap agresif Zionis, terutamanya mengenai artikel dalam The Washington Post yang disiarkan baru-baru ini. Pemimpin-pemimpin Umno ini — Timbalan Perdana Menteri Muhyiddin Yassin, Menteri Pertahanan Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Rais Yatim dan Ketua Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin — lekas mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memutar belit kenyataan penulis, yang menulis:
Beliau (Anwar) berkata beliau kesal menggunakan istilah “tindakan agresif Zionis”, yang biasa digunakan oleh pemimpin bersuara lantang seperti Presiden Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “Kenapa saya perlu menggunakannya jika sekiranya ia boleh mencetuskan banyak salah faham?” Beliau berkata, “saya perlu lebih berhati-hati.”
Sekiranya pemimpin-pemimpin Umno ini tidak dapat memahami Bahasa Inggeris yang mudah ini, maksudnya ialah Anwar kesal menggunakan istilah seperti yang digunakan oleh Presiden Iran kontroversial, iaitu Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, yang boleh menimbulkan salah faham dalam masyarakat antarabangsa. Anwar kemudian secara merendah diri mengakui beliau perlu lebih berhati-hati cara beliau mengkritik kerajaan Zionis Israel, khususnya dalam situasi di mana tuduhan anti-semitik sangat berleluasa.
Bagaimanapun, pendirian Anwar dan KEADILAN tentang tindakan agresif ‘Zionis’ terhadap rakyat Palestin sangat jelas. Kami mengutuk serangan ganas terhadap kapal flotila Gaza baru-baru ini, diskriminasi, penindasan dan keganasan yang berterusan terhadap rakyat Palestin oleh kerajaan Israel, termasuk menyoal peranan Amerika Syarikat menyokong rejim ‘Zionis’. Pada masa yang sama, kami menghormati semua hak orang Yahudi terhadap tanah air sendiri dan juga hidup secara aman bersama orang-orang Islam dan rakyat Palestin beragama Kristian. Malahan kami menolak diskriminasi, penindasan dan keganasan di Malaysia dan di luar negara.
Mengenai sindiran bahawa Anwar rapat dengan orang-orang Yahudi Amerika, beliau secara terbuka menjelaskan bahawa mereka adalah kenalan beliau ketika beliau menjadi Menteri Kewangan Malaysia. Anwar memang menggunakan setiap peluang yang beliau perolehi untuk membangkitkan isu Palestin dan mendesak supaya pertikaian di Timur Tengah ditamatkan segera.
Apa yang kerajaan pimpinan Umno telah lakukan? Menteri Pertahanan Zahid Hamidi telah mengadakan pertemuan sulit dengan rakan sejawatnya dari Israel. Muhyiddin dan Khairy menyokong keputusan Perdana Menteri Najib Tun Razak melantik Apco (yang disyaki mempunyai hubungan dengan Zionis) pada kadar bayaran RM77 juta setahun. Dan lebih mengecewakan ialah tindakan Rais menggunakan kuasanya untuk memastikan media arus perdana mengikut rentak Umno-Barisan Nasional, yang kini menerima nasihat daripada Apco.
Jika kerajaan Umno-BN mahu menyampaikan maklumat terkini tentang nasib rakyat Palestin dan menunjukkan pendirian mereka tentang tindakan agresif ‘Zionis’, sila arahkan media arus perdana menterjemah dan menyiarkan artikel sepenuhnya dari The Washington Post dan mengatur satu majlis debat melalui siaran terus menerus di antara Anwar dan Najib. Biar semua rakyat Malaysia melihat dan mendengar sendiri apa yang dibuat oleh Apco di Malaysia.
JONSON CHONG
Pengarah Komunikasi
