Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697807201181.pdf (Malaysia)
SPEECH YB TAN SRI DATO’ MOHAMAD ARIFF BIN MD YUSOF SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PARLIAMENT OF MALAYSIA 3RD CONFERENCE OF THE LEAGUE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR AL-QUDS SATURDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2020 @ 9.00AM ONE WORLD HOTEL, PETALING JAYA Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Good Morning, (SALUTATIONS) The Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad; President of The League of “Parliamentarians for Al-Quds” His Excellency Sheikh Hamid Abdullah Al-Ahmar; The Advisor of the Organizing Committee for the 3rd Conference of The League of “Parliamentarians for Al-Quds” Honourable Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs; Representative of the President of Turkey Honourable Mr. Hasan Turan, President of Turkey Palestine Interparliamentary Friendship Group; His Excellency Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Members of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors Executive Committee members of The League, Distinguished guests, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen As Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives, I am honoured to welcome everyone to the 3rd Conference of The League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds this morning.
I wish to express my appreciation to The League for their trust and confidence in Malaysia as host of the Conference under the auspices of the Malaysian Parliament.

1 Ladies and Gentlemen, Palestine is close to the hearts of Malaysians, including parliamentarians.

Our 2. backbenchers and opposition parliamentarians will invariably set aside their differences and political agenda to converge as one voice when it comes to any motion on Palestine.

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3.

I believe therefore it is apt that this Conference of Parliamentarians from all over the world converge now in Kuala Lumpur to explore, discuss and decide on the role of parliamentarians in the Palestine conflict.

4.

Indeed, there are many other conflicts surrounding us and demanding us to not turn a blind eye, however the Palestinian-Israel conflict has lasted for more than 7 decades and has captured the attention of the international community for a very long time without a clear ending.
Ladies and Gentlemen, 5.

I understand that The League’s key objective is to activate and coordinate the efforts of international parliamentarians to support the Palestine cause, Al-Quds and Palestinian human rights according to international law and act as an internationally independent group working with parliamentarians from various parliaments to coordinate, consult and cooperate on Palestinian issues.

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6.

This is a worthy platform to be supported as parliamentarians are able to play a different role than the government.

The parliamentarians represent the will of the people.

A strong, unified and persistent voice will send a clear message that rule of law, democracy, freedom and justice must be upheld in the Palestine conflict.

I also understand that The League has grown since 2015 from 125 MPs, 25 countries 7. to about 700 MPs from 70 countries in 2018.

The numbers will grow even more.


I’m happy to note that this time around, the Conference is attended by many members from the Asia Pacific countries.

To this end, I’m also happy to announce that Malaysia has created it's own Palestine-Malaysia friendship committee/caucus led by Honourable Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh with members from all parties, religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
I wish to suggest other Houses of Representatives to also create their own such committees or caucuses to ensure actions can be coordinated among parliamentarians.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 8.


As we speak and as fellow parliamentarians who uphold the democratic principles, I am flabbergasted to know that many of the parliamentarians in Palestine who won through legitimate general election, be it Palestine Legislative Council or National Council, have either been detained in Israeli prisons or excluded from Palestine.

Worst still, even Speaker of the House had to endure the despicable treatment of being imprisoned.

2 9.
Aside from the core issues—refugees, Jerusalem, borders—the major themes reflected in the UN resolutions against Israel over the years are its unlawful attacks on its neighbours; its violations of the human rights of the Palestinians, including deportations, demolitions of homes and other collective punishments; its confiscation of Palestinian land; its establishment of illegal settlements; and its refusal to abide by the UN Charter and the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
And now the Palestinians have been offered the so-called “Deal of the Century”.

Some have of course condemned and described it differently.

No doubt this ”deal” will generate a great amount of discussion in this conference, but matters like this show again why we need the platform of the Parliamentarians of Al-Quds to ensure justice and fairness to Palestinians.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 10.


I do hope that Parliamentarians the world over and its several blocs such as Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries (PUIC) and others can play a more active role in pushing a fair and just solution for the sake of the Palestinians.

For example, motions passed by parliamentarians on the Palestine conflict must 11. somehow be championed to see through its implementation.
The establishment of Caucuses on specific issues surrounding the Palestine conflict such as illegal settlements by Israel, violations of rights of parliamentarians, violation of right of women and children, may be effective.

The expansion of circle of engagement on Palestinian issue among parliamentarians, i.e creating regional clusters can ensure better reach and awareness.

12.

These are just some suggestions.

I am sure the Conference will have more ideas and strategies to propose.
Let us make our time here worthwhile and uphold the universal principles of justice, freedom and humanity.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Finally, I wish to congratulate The League of Parliamentarians for al-Quds for 13. organising the Conference and the organising committee under the stewardship of His Excellency Sheikh Hamid Abdullah, Honourable Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution and Honourable Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh and the team for their hard work in preparing this Conference.
I’m optimistic and hopeful of a very positive outcome of the Conference.

And I look forward to having the Speakers and parliamentarians to our August house, the Parliament of Malaysia for dinner later this evening.

Thank you.

Wabillahi taufiq wal hidayah, Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh 3