While the upcoming ASEAN leaders' summit is likely to present the perfect stage to try rejuvenate the regional economy, was there an attempt to divert attention and throw a spanner into the works by playing up the combustible Palestinian issue?
After a short hiatus, it seems like hotshot Machang lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal is back with a bang; this time training his guns at Anwar and his Madani government for “inviting” controversial US president Donald Trump to the ASEAN leaders’ summit which is to be held in the country this month!
In a typically fiery speech in the Dewan Rakyat last Monday (6 Oct) the vocal former Bersatu Youth chief stressed that there can be absolutely no reason or justification for the Madani Government to invite Donald Trump to this country; he even went on to mock those who have said that the ASEAN stage can be used to express the country's stance on the Palestinian issue to Trump.
Donald Trump the great “sinner”..?
Wan Fayhsal then went on to pose a pointed question to all those present in the hall: “Have we forgotten who Trump is? He is one of the most ‘sinful’ figures in the recent history of Palestine!”
Not mincing words, he “lectured” that it was under Trump's administration that thousands of Gazans lost their lives in a terrible genocide and had their lands seized; and according to him, it was also during his tenure that Zionist Israel ramped up its aggression with the overt blessings and applause from Washington!
Wan Fayhsal further stressed that in the history of the world, no American President has ever been able to rein in or put an end to Israel's atrocities; in fact, he added that the US will not dare to rebuke Israel as they literally “worship” the Zionist regime.
Meanwhile, in terms of the country's reputation and dignity, Wan Fayhsal “reassured” that there isn't any benefit to be gained from Trump's sojourn here; in fact, he alleged that by inviting the US president it would be akin to smearing one's face with charcoal, before adding that no matter what, Malaysia must stand firm in defending the truth and ensure that the Palestinian people receive justice.
He then fired a parting shot at Anwar and his Madani administration by claiming that Malaysia did not need to submit to others and pretend to be sovereign, and that what it really needed was moral courage.
Meanwhile, countering the opposition PN MP’s accusations, deputy foreign affairs minister Mohamad Alamin calmly said that there was no need for Wan Fayhsal to take a hard line approach and be “more Hamas than Hamas” itself!
He stressed that President Trump was invited to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia’s capacity as ASEAN chair, which was in line with the bloc’s neutral stance.
Alamin also reminded Wan Fayhsal that no matter what, the US remained Malaysia’s top foreign investor, and that it would use Trump’s visit to express its concern over Gaza while strengthening bilateral ties.
The deputy minister then took the outspoken Bersatu MP to task for not accepting president Trump's recent “20-Point Peace Plan” which ironically even Hamas has accepted, adding that Malaysia would support any measures that would end the bombings and help rebuild Gaza.
In fact, even Hamas and Arab states have accepted Trump's peace plan; so shouldn't Malaysia agree too? Why is Fayhsal then trying to be “more Hamas than Hamas?”
While the firebrand opposition stalwart has often been accused by critics of shooting from the hip, his latest tirade in parliament would have prompted some to ask: when addressing the nation's lawmakers in parliament shouldn't it be done in a calm, factual and polished manner and not by making generalisations and getting carried away by emotion?
In fact, some may even be forgiven for thinking that it was a political ceramah at some rural outpost, where typically the speaker would be “milking” the Palestinian issue and mixing it with politics hoping to stir anger and hatred among the audience.
Furthermore, as an ex-deputy minister shouldn't Wan Fayhsal only know too well that it was beyond PM Anwar’s call as the chair of ASEAN - representing several member states - to unilaterally exclude the powerful US president from attending such a top level meeting?
Truth be told, as one of Malaysia's major investor and trading partner wouldn't it be tantamount to committing “economic suicide” if Trump was to be banned or given the cold-shoulder?
In that context, could there be some who may be secretly harbouring a desire to see the nation's economy collapse, and its people suffer – so long as they stand to gain some easy political points from it?
In conclusion, perhaps, what the general public would love to question the Bersatu MP is: assuming the opposition is in power now, would they really dare to stage all the drama and bar the US president from setting foot in this country - or would they sheepishly roll out a red carpet to him?
Main information source: Wan Ahmad Fayhsal (Facebook) and FMT
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