Taking time off from his busy schedule connected with the ongoing 66th General Assembly of the United Nations, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman met the Malaysian community at an informal high-tea at the Malaysian permanent mission to the United Nations in New York yesterday, and told the Malaysian students to return home after completing their studies, and help in nation-building.

NONE Anifah ( left ) said that the expertise and technological prowess of Malaysian students would serve Malaysia well.

“The country needs you and your expertise. We (politicians) are only temporarily managing the country for you!” he appealed to the Malaysian students, many of whom were present during the meeting with the foreign minister.

Anifah, who was introduced to the Malaysian community by the Malaysian permanent representative to the United Nations, Hussein Haniff, was accompanied by his wife, several parliamentarians and high-ranking officials.

'We're on our way'

Capturing the mood at the General Assembly where the “hot topic” was the move by Palestine to get full membership, Anifah told the Malaysian community that the “most eagerly awaited speech” was that of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who was given a thunderous applause and a standing ovation by the international community.

About two-thirds of the General Assembly supported Palestine’s UN membership and, in effect, Palestinian statehood. The membership application, routed through the General Assembly, will be forwarded to the United Nations Security Council.

Palestine needs nine out of 15 votes from the UNSC members for joining the world body if there is no veto from the P-5 members (US, China, France, Russia and the UK).

The rest who have been voted in for a two-year term are Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Gabon, Germany, India, Portugal, Lebanon, Nigeria and South Africa.

Should the US exercise its veto, as US diplomats were saying at the UN on Friday when Abbas made a formal application, Palestine could qualify as an observer state compared with its present status as an “observer entity”.

It could then formally raise issues of concern to it at the United Nations International Court of Justice, a prospect that terrifies Israel and its Western allies.

Anifah also updated the Malaysian community on Malaysia’s domestic politics.

He also explained the recent announcement on the repeal of the Internal Security Act, a relic of British colonial rule.

The crime rate in Malaysia, particularly street crime, had declined by 35 percent," he said.

Malaysia, Anifah said, was highly respected abroad.  

“Though we are not a very big country, we are also not small. Though we are not highly developed, we are also well on our way to becoming a developed nation. Our country is highly respected for its international role.”  

- Bernama