PUTRAJAYA should suspend commercial and diplomatic commitments made to the Donald Trump administration over the US president’s move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said.

She said Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been described by Trump as a “good friend”, must leverage diplomatic and economic mechanisms at Malaysia’s resource to condemn the move which can trigger instability and more violence.

“(Najib) Razak must now demonstrate that his personal friendship with President Trump, and the investment commitments made on behalf of Malaysia at their meeting, cannot be unconditional in the face of such an affront to democracy and to the Muslim world.

“At the governmental level, in Malaysia and elsewhere, this must include evaluation of the need to take actions such as suspension of commercial and diplomatic commitments with the Trump administration.

“Also, to show Malaysia’s leadership through example, by publicly suspending any commitments made to President Trump, if there is no correction of his insult and injury to the peace process and to the Palestinian people,” the PKR vice-president said in a statement.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has condemned Trump’s decision while Najib said Putrajaya and Muslims worldwide will never accept Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Nurul Izzah urged Najib to raise the matter at the regional level, at the Organisation of Islamic Conference of which Malaysia is a member, and at the United Nations.

“These are crucial steps which will hopefully prevent unwanted escalation of long running tensions in the region.

“These steps will at least clearly separate the people of Malaysia from being a party to President Trump’s disregard for the Palestinian people and the citizens of East Jerusalem,” the Lembah Pantai MP added. – December 8, 2017.