PRESS RELEASE ON VIVA PALESTINA MALAYSIA’s BOYCOTT ISRAEL WALKABOUT

Kuala Lumpur, 24th January 2010…….Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM) members, family and friends donned ‘Boycott Israel’ t shirts while taking in a leisurely morning stroll amidst the cool crisp morning air and lush green surroundings of Taman Bukit Kiara. The walk was aimed at encouraging the public to boycott Israel as well as 4 companies which support the Zionist regime through their manufacturing and business operations.

As part of sustained efforts to support the Palestinian cause for freedom and justice, Viva Palestina Malaysia (formerly known as COMPLETE – Coalition of Malaysian NGOs against Persecution of Palestinians) joins the worldwide call for a boycott of Israel.

The Sunday walk was the third activity in a series of ‘Boycott Israel’ events held by VPM starting with our Boycott Israel Campaign I held on 15th August at Menara DBKL followed by a ‘Family and Friends Day’ at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall on November 14th.

Viva Palestina Malaysia’s activities reinforce the message that was relayed by last year’s ‘Criminalising War’ Conference in Kuala Lumpur at which Y.A. Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other prominent speakers like George Galloway and Cynthia Mckinney emphasised the need for perpetrators of war crimes and genocide to be brought to justice. At the very least, there must be efforts made to result in these criminals being ostracized by the world community. The boycott instrument is one such effort which has worked successfully in the past, particularly against the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

We believe measures such as boycotting will isolate and compel Israel to seriously negotiate to end the tragedy leading to the creation of a free and independent state of Palestine.

For info please contact :

Yuzaidi at 012 273 4353,

Noraini at 012 277 1710

VIVA PALESTINA MALAYSIA, formerly known as COMPLETE (COALITION OF MALAYSIAN NGOs AGAINST PERSECUTION OF PALESTINIANS) is a coalition of more than 50 NGOs that cuts across racial, religious and political lines in Malaysia. This coalition was formed after the recent escalation of Israel-Palestine conflict that culminated in the invasion of Gaza. We intend to work closely with foreign NGOs with similar objectives, and together as a worldwide united front of NGOs, act as an effective pressure group to governments, pushing for a just and comprehensive resolution of the conflict.

VIVA PALESTINA MALAYSIA’s VISION: To effectuate a just, equitable, prompt and sustainable resolution to the conflict in Palestine.

PRESS RELEASE

The cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace loving Malaysians.

This act of  arson, committed presumably in the name of Islam desecrates the very religion it purports to protect. The Holy Quran unequivocally  prohibits destroying the houses of worship of all religions, as warned in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40.

“… Had not Allah checked the excesses and aggression of one set of people by means of another, surely would be destroyed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated …”

During the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second righteous caliph, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed: “This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya: The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed …” (At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma`arif, Egypt.)

In the light of these tragic turn of events, the Muslim Professionals Forum:

1.      Demand the authorities to immediately conduct an impartial and thorough investigation to identify , apprehend and punish  the perpetrators of this despicable violence lest the country spirals into a vicious cycle of retaliatory acts which would fracture the very fabric of Malaysian civil society.

2.      Urge the authorities  to either refuse or revoke the permit for the planned demonstration in order to contain the heightened emotions and sensitivities  from among the Muslim quarters, angered by the recent high court decision on the usage of the word Allah.

3.      Urge individuals, organisations and political parties to refrain  from further issuing  provocative and inflammatory statements related to the high court verdict.

4.      Urge all Malaysians to emphatise and stand in solidarity with our Christian community in their hour of grief and need.

5.      Urge all peace loving Malaysians to maintain composure and let cool heads prevail.

May Allah guide us all  in this most troubling times.

Board of Directors
Muslim Professionals Forum

Dr. Mazeni Alwi

Dr. Shaikh Johari Bux

Haji Mohamed Ali Ghazali

Dr. Jeffrey Abu Hassan

Dato’ Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin