By G Vinod TUE, 01 JUN 2010 16:16
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat has given Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak 48 hours to convene a special parliamentary session to discuss the Israeli attack on a humanitarian convoy of ships ferrying medicines, food supplies and construction material to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Disappointed with Najib’s slow reaction to the devastating incident, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar said the government must, within 48 hours, also present a plan to save 11 Malaysians who are being detained by the Israeli authority.
He said this after attending a Pakatan-organised rally at the US Embassy here to protest against the Israeli attack on the humanitarian convoy yesterday.
“We are demanding that the PM convene an emergency sitting of Parliament within 48 hours to discuss the Israeli attack and we also want to know the government’s plan to save the Malaysians being held by the Israeli authorities,” he said.
These were part of a four-point open demand issued to the government today following the attack yesterday. At least 19 volunteers, on board Mivi Mamara, were killed while 30 others were injured.
Mahfuz also said PAS was giving the government 48 hours to terminate its contract with public relations company Apco Worldwide, which, he alleged, was a proxy company for Israel-American’s self-interest.
“They (the government) has 48 hours to terminate the contract with Apco.
“We want the government to stop all economic dealings, official or otherwise, with Israel immediately,” he said.
Too friendly with the US
After their rally, the Pakatan leaders handed a memorandum to the US Embassy to condemn the attack.
Also present were Batu MP Tian Chua, Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin and Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Ghazali.
Their memorandum was received by the embassy’s political counsellor Brian McFeeters.
Nurul Izzah said the US should take a stronger stand against Israel in the aftermath of this attack instead of just expressing regret.
“Post-Apco, Malaysia is seen to be too friendly with the US. The government is even reprimanding Iran over its peaceful nuclear energy project.”
“We find it very disturbing that our government is dragging its feet over the attack even though there are Malaysians affected by this as well.”
She added that Pakatan leaders will hold a special meeting later today, which will be chaired by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
