THE atrocities committed by Israel on the people of Palestine have been widely condemned by most countries and their leaders around the world. 

In Malaysia, as usual, the government is slow to react. After Dr Mahathir Mohamad has spoken, then only our foreign office initiated a statement to condemn Israel. 

Unlike Recep Erdogan, the President of Turkey, who took the initiative to rally the leaders of the countries in the Middle East including Russia, to support his condemnation, our ambassador to the Middle East, kept quiet. 

Malaysia’s ambassador to the Middle East is based here in Kuala Lumpur. He has access to government apparatus and machinery to copy the same thing as what Erdogan did. But he did not. Or he dares not?

Is he concerned but lazy to act? Or is he simply not capable? If he is truly not capable and this matter is beyond his capabilities, then why do the Malaysian government appoint such an inept person to the post? 

Can the government sack him? For he is not doing his job at all, despite receiving fat monthly salary and all the perks that come with the job?

Please do not use Covid-19 or movement control order as your excuse.

The least he could do, is to show some courage and represents our concerns for the Palestinians. 

He should call many of the foreign diplomats, especially those from the Middle East in KL to rally around Malaysia to condemn Israel’s aggression.

Since there is no Israeli diplomat here in KL, how about making a representation to their main ally instead? You know, the US Embassy.

Send a protest note or something to that effect. Make our stand known. Call on the US ambassador to hand in Malaysia’s protest notes personally. 

But are you brave enough and capable of showing us your courage and may be, a fraction of your leadership, if any?

Surely, the US ambassador will have to accept. But not saying anything at all, is tantamount to not supporting Palestinian causes. Not condemning Israel’s aggression against the weak Palestinians is not the stand we, Malaysians, would like to take. 

But why is he not done so, despite his official position and receiving a fat salary every month? 

I think this ambassador to the Middle East has no leadership at all. I wonder if he understands what is going on? Actually, come to think of it, what is it that his party is fighting for? 

If Israeli’s daily bombing of Palestinian Muslims still does not motivate him to speak up, then what will?  

The daily rocket attacks by Israel have resulted in the killing of many innocent people, women and children. Are these not his party’s concerns?

He and several of his party men are in the government. What are they doing in there? Just keeping quiet, nod their heads and become a yes man to the quiet PM? Is it the case of not wanting to speak until the PM has done so? 

I am afraid you have failed us, the country and the Malaysian people. 

In case you missed the point, we are against aggression, unwanted atrocities and the killing of innocent people, women and children, not just in Palestine, a Muslim country, but anywhere in the world. 

You and your party don’t deserve our votes. So, make this year, the Palestine year, as your “Pas last term”. – May 16, 2021.

* Rosli Khan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.