Datuk Seri Johari Baharum, Malaysian Deputy Defense Minister, said yesterday that Malaysia is ready to send a peacekeeping contingent to Palestine at the request of the United Nations, stressing that they will not conduct any kind of security operation without the consent of the UN, just like occurred in Lebanon.
Washington's stance on Jerusalem provoked an immediate reaction from Malaysia.
In Kuala Lampur, during a speech at the annual congress of his party, the National Organization of United Malaysians (Umno), Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak invites "Muslims from all over the world to make their voices heard , to clearly express their strong opposition to any recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, now and forever ”. Behind his declarations, there are fears of "serious repercussions for the security and stability of the region", especially on the front of the fight against Islamic terrorism.
The harsh statements by the Malaysian prime minister and his government are also motivated by domestic political reasons: Malaysia is preparing for the next parliamentary elections, which will be held by next August and, the Barisan Nasional ("National Front", Bm), coalition of the conservative political forces in the country's government, has announced that they want to win the parliamentary majority at the next consultations.