BEIJING: China's Coast Guard fired water cannon on Tuesday (Sept 16) at Philippine ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of an 'illegal' intrusion and the ramming of one of its vessels.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s call for coordinated global action against Israel represents a bold and principled stance rooted in international law, sending a clear political message amid escalating violence in Gaza , experts say.
In the National Statement delivered at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on Monday , Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the Muslim world to collectively impose harsh measures, including the suspension of diplomatic and trade ties with Israel, to pressure the Zionist regime over its continued aggression against Palestinians. International relations expert Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi of Universiti Malaya said Malaysia’s firm stance uses the language of accountability in line with the Global South’s growing voice in world affairs. "Anwar’s call is grounded in international legal mechanisms because the International Court of Justice has already issued several provisional measures against Israel, and the International Criminal Court has initiated proceedings against individuals allegedly involved in war crimes,” she told Bernama. Khoo noted that while binding sanctions under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter often face vetoes in the Security Council, there are practical and legal alternatives available to nations acting in concert. "These include suspending diplomatic ties, imposing trade restrictions, enforcing arms embargoes, and supporting the ICC’s legal processes,” she said. From a diplomatic standpoint, Khoo suggested immediate steps such as downgrading or cutting ties with Israel, limiting official visits, and closing airspace or ports to Israeli entities. On the economic front, she emphasised the importance of targeted arms embargoes and the control of dual-use exports, as they are directly linked to Israeli military strength. "Financial sanctions, such as freezing assets of individuals or companies involved in illegal settlements, would increase the political and economic cost for those complicit in the occupation,” she explained. Khoo said that other legal measures include enhanced cooperation with the ICC, universal jurisdiction-based prosecutions by individual countries, and international monitoring of ICJ rulings, framing the Palestine issue as not just a political issue, but one of international criminal accountability. She said that Malaysia’s proposal could potentially reshape the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation if backed by an implementation mechanism, such as a coordinated task force to enforce arms embargoes or a list of entities involved in illegal settlements. Additionally, Khoo said Malaysia holds a unique position as Asean Chair 2025 to bridge Southeast Asia and the Islamic world and could advocate for Asean to formally support ICJ and ICC decisions, aligning the bloc’s voice with that of the Islamic world. She also stressed that Asean’s disaster management experience could be instrumental in supporting humanitarian corridors into Gaza, while the OIC could offer political and financial backing. "This approach not only showcases Anwar’s leadership but also strengthens Asean’s credibility as a bloc attentive to global humanitarian concerns,” she added. Meanwhile, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, said Anwar’s statement also puts moral pressure on countries allied with the United States to use their influence to end Israeli violence. He maintained that Malaysia would continue to be viewed as a principled and outspoken nation on the Palestinian issue, with a firm grounding in human rights and international law. At the same time, he dismissed concerns that Malaysia’s strong stance might jeopardise bilateral relations with the US, noting that both nations share robust ties in areas such as trade, investment, education, and maritime security. "Malaysia’s remarks are made within the framework of international law and humanitarian concerns, reducing the risk of being perceived as anti-American,” he said. Mohd Faiz said Anwar’s vocal support for Palestine underscores Malaysia’s consistent moral leadership and may help shape global narratives on the conflict. While acknowledging potential economic downsides, such as possible investment hesitancy from companies aligned with Israel or its allies, Mohd Faiz said Malaysia’s diverse network of trade and investment partners served as a sufficient buffer. "Malaysia is not overly reliant on any single bloc. This diversified economic strategy allows us to absorb and offset any fallout from our principled stand relating to Palestine,” he noted. Moreover, Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to international law and human rights could be seen as a competitive advantage by like-minded investors seeking a stable, principled, and values-driven partner, he added. – BernamaPolice hunting suspect after nine-year-old girl molested in Kulai coffee shop
Anwar Ibrahim Palestine Israel Gaza War Human Rights International Relations Khoo Ying Hooi Institute Of Strategic And International Studies M Mohd Faiz Abdullah Organisation Of Islamic Cooperation Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit Doha Universiti Malaya
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