KOTA KINABALU: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) seeks clarification from the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as to whether or not the Federal Government has any plan to bring in Palestinian refugees into Malaysia.
Its president, Datuk Henrynus Amin, said
while Malaysia’s unequivocal support for the Palestinian humanitarian cause deserves the support. of all Malaysians, the issue of Palestinian refugees from Gaza being sent to Sabah and Sarawak is very disturbing, divisive, and polarizing.
“Anak Negeri regrets the lack of response or clarification by the Federal Government on the issue that was raised by local non-governmental organisations and also by a Federal Minister from Sarawak.
“The Federal muted response to public concern on the prospect of Palestinian refugees being sent to Sabah and Sarawak has given rise to actual fears and more speculations.
“No doubt Malaysians are divided over the Israel Hamas war in Gaza, but most, if not all, are actually united in their sympathy for the innocent victims,” he said in a statement here today.
According to Henrynus, all Malaysians will support calls for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilian Palestinians in Gaza.
“For that matter, Sabahan and Sarawakian fully support humanitarian assistance to the civilians under siege in Gaza, but most will not accept the arrival of Palestinian refugees on the Bornean shores.
“If indeed there is such a plan by the Federal Government, overtly or covertly, Anak Negeri strongly suggests Palestinian refugees arriving in Malaysia should be sent or relocated to the various states in Malaya, such as Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, but certainly not to Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.
He stressed that Sabah is already burdened by the huge presence of more than a million Filipino refugees and other illegal immigrants.
“The prospect of receiving more refugees from Palestine is untenable and unacceptable,” he said.
As such, Henrynus said Anak Negeri urges the Malaysian government to take a closer look at the current policies adopted by Egypt, Jordan, and other Gulf Arab states, which till today still refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.
“Instead of mulling the idea of taking in Palestinian refugees, the Prime Minister should instead double down on diplomatic initiative to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war and to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” he said.
