KUALA LUMPUR: The worsening situation in Palestine and the role Malaysia to help ease the conflict in the country were the main topics of debate in the Dewan Rakyat this week.

The week's sitting also saw the winding up of the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 by 25 ministries and three ministers in the Prime Minister's Department with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also the Finance Minister closing the winding up session before Budget 2024 was passed at the policy level with a majority vote.

On the situation in Palestine, the focus is on Malaysia's stance which strongly rejects all forms of violence and condemns the act of killing innocent people and taking women and children as hostages in Palestine.

With the permission of the Speaker of the House, Anwar who delivered a seven-minute speech in English for the international audience, also condemned the bombing of civilians, homes, hospitals and the massacre of innocent people, children, women and men by the Israeli army.

"... this criminal act clearly violates the norms of international law. Israel's actions in cutting food, water, humanitarian aid and electricity supplies are in violation of international law," he said.

The Prime Minister also revealed that following Malaysia's insistence on the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received three 'demarches' from the United States government on Oct 13, 18 and 30 asking the country not to continue its stance, especially Malaysia's refusal to consider Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

Anwar also reminded the people not to politicise the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or allow the issue to be used to divide the people of Malaysia.

Still on Palestine, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 for the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) are ready if there is a decision or mandate to be deployed as peacekeeping troops to Palestine.

Mohamad said he would also bring up issues related to Palestine at the discussion session with the ASEAN Defence Ministers next week as a side topic to hear the voices of the countries in the region regarding the conflict.

Also discussing the same issue, the Parliamentary Caucus on Palestine recommended that the government summons the ambassadors of countries who oppose the United Nations (UN) resolution for the implementation of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir when winding up the debate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday also did not avoid touching on the Palestinian issue when he said Malaysia will not stop engaging with other countries to garner support for the Palestinian cause and strongly condemning the cruelty of the Zionist regime. .

He said Malaysia needs to continue influencing efforts not only with the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) but also the Group of 77 Nations (G77) and Non-Aligned Nations (NAM) to help the Palestinians in Gaza.

Besides that, the Dewan Rakyat sitting also witnessed Anwar as the Leader of the 15th Parliament, congratulating the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar who was elected as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"I would also like to congratulate and pledge our allegiance to His Majesty. The House also congratulated the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, for being elected as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said.

-- BERNAMA