In a bilateral meeting, Malaysia expressed interest in exploring possible collaboration with Palestine across various sectors, including support for restoring the telecommunications sector in Gaza.
Malaysia’s Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil, who is on a three-day working visit to Turkey, met with Palestine’s Minister of Economy, Mohammad al-Amour, to discuss potential areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting took place following Fahmi's attendance at the closing ceremony of the 40th Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on November 6.
During the meeting, Minister Mohammad expressed deep appreciation for the ongoing support of the Malaysian people for the Palestinian cause.
Notably, this visit marks the first presence of a Malaysian minister at COMCEC in 40 years, following the last representation by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in 1984.
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Balancing Aid and Local Needs
On the other hand, there are opposing views that emphasize the importance of first addressing basic needs within Malaysia. As reported by Focus Malaysia, a significant portion of Malaysia’s population, particularly in Sabah, Sarawak, and parts of the Peninsula, still faces barriers to basic telecommunications access.
Issues like lack of signal, dropped calls, and slow internet connections are daily challenges for these communities. In fact, telecommunications infrastructure in certain areas remains inadequate, outdated, and unevenly distributed.
In a context where many Malaysians, especially in rural regions, continue to struggle with reliable internet access, the decision to provide telecommunications aid to Gaza raises questions about fairness and priority. While solidarity with Palestine is essential, it should not overshadow domestic issues.
Complaints about poor telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas have been repeatedly voiced, yet no concrete action appears to have been taken. This apparent shift in priorities raises concerns about the government’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of its own citizens.
