MEDIA STATEMENT: REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE MEETING NO. 1 YEAR 2020 I am happy to announce that the very first Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade report was approved and put on the table of Parliamentarians this morning. In other words, the first report for the first-ever Select Committee on International Relations and Trade. This is an important moment in the process of making Parliamentary Select Committees more effective in monitoring ministries and influencing policies. The report is on bilateral ties of Malaysia and Palestine.
The report is based on the hearing conducted on the 7th of February 2020, on the issue of Malaysia-Palestine. Attending this hearing were: YB. Puan June Leow Hsiad Hui (PKR – Hulu Selangor), YB. Tuan Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP – Sibu), and myself (PKR – Subang).
Members who did not attend the meeting were: YB. Tuan P. Prabakaran (PKR – Batu), YB. Dato’ Dr. Haji Noor Azmi bin Ghazali (BERSATU – Bagan Serai), YB. Dato’ Sri Haji Tajuddin bin Abdul Rahman (UMNO – Pasir Salak), and YB. Tuan Haji Ahmad Amzad bin Mohamed @ Hashim (PAS – Kuala Terengganu).
We recorded the testimonies of officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. We also heard testimonies from Hon. Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar (Member of Parliament for Yeman-cum-President of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds) and Mr. Muslim Imran (Chairman of the Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia).
The other delegates attending were: Mr. Abdallah Waleed (Deputy Chairman of Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia), Mr. Syed Mohamad (General Coordinator of Friends of Palestine (Kuala Lumpur)), Mr. Abdallah Beltagi (Public Relations Officers (Parliamentarians for Al-Quds)), Mr. Muad Zaki (President of Friends of Malaysia-Palestine), and Dr. Ahmed A. A. Alnajjar Afaf (Translator).
YB Tuan Syed Ibrahim bin Syed Noh (PKR – Ledang), as a member of the board of directors of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds (Al-Quds) in KL greatly assisted us in organising the esteemed delegates. He is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Palestine, and had provided notes and guidance on the issue of Palestine.
The report was originally due to be tabled in the March parliamentary sitting, but due to the change of government and the suspension of all Parliamentary Select Committees, this report was delayed for 8 months. The salient findings of the report are the Malaysian contribution to Palestine is very small at an average of RM4.6 million per year. The Committee’s recommended the following actions:
To reject the Trump administration’s proposal for the “Deal of the Century”; and
To expedite a free trade agreement with Palestine to encourage greater bilateral trade activities; and
To increase resources to improve human capital building for Palestine via educational scholarship; and
To increase aid to a minimum of no less than RM10 million per year to Palestine from the current average of RM 4.6 million per year; and
The completion of a school in Gaza, as promised the Barisan Nasional (BN) government back in 2013; and
To enhance cultural exchanges with the local Palestinian community here in Malaysia.
We hope that the MOFA and MITI ministers will study these recommendations and we expect a feedback session from them within 3 months.
The last issue I want to stress is that all Select Committees are currently suspended since the MCO in March 2020.
The Speaker and the government must expedite the appointments of new members to affected Select Committees, provide adequate resources, and enable committees to re-start their parliament duties as soon as possible. In view of the current political situation, Select Committees have an urgent and important role to provide check and balance on the government and assist in policy developments.
YB Tuan Wong Chen, Member of Parliament (PKR – Subang)
Chairman of the Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade
YB. Puan June Leow Hsiad Hui. Member of Parliament (PKR – Hulu Selangor)
Member of the Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade
YB. Tuan Oscar Ling Chai Yew, Member of Parliament (DAP – Sibu)
Member of the Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade
YB Tuan Syed Ibrahim bin Syed Noh, Member of Parliament (PKR – Ledang)
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Board of Director of the League of Parliamentarians for Al
Quds (Al-Quds) (Kuala Lumpur)
Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Palestine
2 November 2020