PAS, Abim want permanent NAM secretariat in Msia
PAS today expressed support for Malaysia to be the permanent secretariat for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) but noted if the summit failed to achieve anything relevant, its members must decide whether NAM should continue to exist.
In a press statement, PAS acting president and parliamentary opposition leader Abdul Hadi Awang said NAM members should maintain the administration and management of the secretariat.
He added if the meeting failed to culminate in the setting up of a secretariat, then the event would be deemed as another "expensive social activity".
"Due to the amount of time and rakyat's money spent on the leaders and delegates from the 114 countries, the meeting should produce something just as practical.
"If NAM failed to decide on something relevant, each member should critically decide whether NAM should continue to exist or not," stressed Abdul Hadi who is also Terengganu menteri besar.
PAS today expressed support for Malaysia to be the permanent secretariat for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) but noted if the summit failed to achieve anything relevant, its members must decide whether NAM should continue to exist.
In a press statement, PAS acting president and parliamentary opposition leader Abdul Hadi Awang said NAM members should maintain the administration and management of the secretariat.
He added if the meeting failed to culminate in the setting up of a secretariat, then the event would be deemed as another "expensive social activity".
"Due to the amount of time and rakyat's money spent on the leaders and delegates from the 114 countries, the meeting should produce something just as practical.
"If NAM failed to decide on something relevant, each member should critically decide whether NAM should continue to exist or not," stressed Abdul Hadi who is also Terengganu menteri besar.
The five-day long 13th NAM summit began yesterday at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Most member countries are developing nations without any international political clout. The movement was set up during the Cold War as an alternative to the Eastern and Western power blocs.
Terrorism definition
Meanwhile, Abdul Hadi said PAS also supported NAM's decision to discuss the definition of terrorism so that an agreement could be reached on how to resolve the issue.
He said Islam and its followers should not be victimised as a result of the international community efforts to combat terror.
"Without the need to cite an example, terrorism occurs in many countries, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
"NAM must unanimously endeavour to rid prejudice towards any religion or race,"he added.
In a related development, the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) echoed PAS' support for a permanent NAM secretariat in Malaysia.
Its president Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman said ideally the secretariat should be in Malaysia because the country is one of the "most assertive voices and leading proponents of Third World interests, backed by a long history of multi-racial harmony and peaceful existence".
"NAM, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad could provide a stronger voice and a greater impact on the international political arena," he said in a press statement.
