THE RESTRUCTURING OF MALAYSIA'S FOREIGN POLICIES TOWARDS PALESTINE: THE ROLE OF NGOS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT
Main Article Content
Abstract
Malaysia's commitment to expressing objections against the conquest and tyranny inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people has never faded. Various representatives of social movements, whether individually or collectively, have stepped forward to drive various initiatives to help the Palestinians, particularly NGOs. Indirectly, the involvement of NGOs in the Palestine issue has been able to contribute to enhancing the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Palestine. There are two objectives of this study, firstly to examine the essence of Malaysia's foreign policy towards Palestine. Secondly, how can the contributions of NGOs strengthen the interaction of bilateral relations and socio-economics between Malaysia and Palestine? The study design uses a qualitative approach involving focus group interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that the medium of communication involving the process of interaction, negotiation, and soft diplomacy between Malaysia and Palestine simultaneously proves that the bilateral relations of the country are in good condition. The researcher also found that the interaction and cooperation between NGOs and the Malaysian Government is one of the contributing factors to the good relations between Malaysia and Palestine and the harmony of the country's foreign policy. However, the researcher perceives that the Malaysian Government's view on the role of NGOs in helping Palestine is somewhat restrained. The comments provided by the Malaysian Government are only based on the scope of how the genuine efforts of NGOs in assisting socio-economics through aid missions increase awareness of the Palestine issue among Malaysians and become a platform for delivering humanitarian aid to Palestine.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Abdullah, A. (2008). Dr. Mahathir’s selected letters to world leaders. Marshall Cavendish.
Agbor, S. E. (2009). Federation of Islamic organizations in Europe. [Master dissertation, Masaryk University].
Anon. (2011, 4 Jun). Malaysian PM meets Palestinian delegation, expresses support for Gaza. http://search.proquest.com/docview/870158800?accountid=50217.
Anon. (2013, 23 Januari). Lawatan ke Gaza cara terbaik lahir sokongan kepada Palestin, kata Najib. http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/lawatan-ke-gaza-cara-terbaik-lahir-sokongan-kepada-palestin-kata-najib-1.124210.
Araj, B., & Brym, R. J. (2010). Opportunity, culture and agency: influences on Fatah and Hamas strategic action during the second intifada. International Sociological Association, 25(6), 842–868.
Azlan Helmy Abd Samat, Shiraaj Zainul Abiddin, Mohamed Khalis Mohamed Rafi, Khairul Ahmad, Ahmad Munawwar Salim. (2019). Humanitarian relief mission for Palu earthquake: role of emergency doctors as forward medical team during disaster Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine. Special Edition for 18th International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM 2019).
Betsill, M. M., & Corell, E. (2001). NGO influence in international environmental negotiations: a framework for analysis. Global Environmental Politics, 1(4), 65-85.
Chamil, W. (1989). Dasar luar era Mahathir. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Fajar Bakti.
Edris, A. (1997). Dasa-dasar sosial negara. Dalam A. A. A.Jawan, Kenegaraan Malaysia (m/s. 210). Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Gupta, G. R., Grown, C., Fewer, S., Gupta, R., & Nowrojee, S. (2023) Beyond gender mainstreaming: transforming humanitarian action, organizations and culture. Journal of International Humanitarian Action.
Harun, R. (2009). In pursuit of national interest: Change and continuity in Malaysia’s foreign policy towards the Middle East. Jurnal Antarabangsa Kajian Asia Barat, 1, 23-38.
Husyairi Harunarashid, Shahridan Mohd Fathil, Shalimar Abdullah, Teodoro Javier Herbosa. (2011). Evidence for institutional commitment and support for volunteer humanitarian relief missions. International Humanitarian Conference 2011.
Ishkanian, A., Shutes, I. (2021). Who needs the experts? The politics and practices of alternative humanitarianism and its relationship to NGOs. Voluntas.
Jali, N. M., Redzuan, M., Samah, A. A., & Rashid, I. M. (2001). Pengajian Malaysia; kenegaraan dan kewarganegaraan. Prentice Hall.
Joshua S. Goldstein, S, J. & Pevehouse, C, J. (2006). International Relations (Edisi ke-7). Longman.
Kamarulbaid, M, A, M. (2014, 8 November). 2,000 Paket makanan diagih ke Gaza. http://www.bharian.com.my/node/16482.
Karim, M. A. (1990). Malaysian foreign policy. Dalam L. D. Mohammed Azhari Karim, Malaysian foreign policy; issues and perspectives (m/s. 5). Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara.
Kim, Y. (2011). The unveiled power of NGOs: How NGOs influence states' foreign policy behaviors. The University of Iowa Institutional Repository.
Koss, M. (2019). The Malaysian-Palestinian relationship and transnational networks civil society activism, politics and co-constitution of interests. Middle East Insights, 197, 1-7.
M.Hudson, V. (2005). Foreign policy analysis: actor-specific theory and the ground of international relations. Foreign Policy Analysis, 1, 1-30.
Mohamad Ikhram Mohamad Ridzuan, Mohd Ikbal Mohd Huda, Nurliana Kamaruddin, & Noraini Zulkifli. (2022). Dasar Luar Malaysia Terhadap China Sehingga Era Pentadbiran Pakatan Harapan: Membina Saling Percaya dalam Situasi Geopolitik yang Berubah. Akademika Journal of the Southeast Asia Social Sciences and Humanities. 207-220.
Mohd Ikbal Mohd Huda, Ikhram Ridzuan, Nurliana Kamaruddin. (2021). Anomali dasar luar Malaysia terhadap China ketika pasca era perang dingin (1989-1996). eBangi - Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 35-51.
Monich, A., Hoil-Nielsen, P.V., & Raju, E. (2023). The stagnation of innovation in humanitarian cash assistance. Journal of International Humanitarian Action.
Mahathir, M. (2003). Terrorism and the real issues. Pelanduk Publisher.
Nazri, S, A. & Sulaiman, N. (2020). Partisipasi NGO dalam bantuan kemanusiaan terhadap pelarian di MALAYSIA dan sumbangannya ke arah penyatupaduan masyarakat. Malaysian Journal of History, Politics & Strategic Studies, 47(3), 214-245.
Nair, S. (1997). Islam in Malaysian foreign policy. Routledge.
Nordin, M., & Hussiin, H. (2004). Pengajian Malaysia (Edisi ke-2). Fajar Bakti.
Omar, R., Abdullah, M. A., & Mukhtaruddin, M. J. (2005). Hubungan Malaysia-Singapura era Mahathir. Jabatan Penerbitan Dan Teknologi Media Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Othman, Z. (2005). Ideologi dan dasar-dasar negara. Dalam M. M. Ruslan Zainuddin, Kenegaraan Malaysia (m/s. 308). Oxford Fajar.
Pease, K.-K. S. (2008). International organizations. Perspectives on governance in the twenty-first century (Edisi ke-3.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Rajendran, M. (1993). Mahathir Mohamad: Prime Minister of Malaysia. IBS Buku.
Rogers, R. A. (2006). Malaysia, komanwel dan pengurusan isu-isu antarabangsa. Dalam R. Harun, Malaysia' foreign relations; issues and challenges (m/s. 96- 97). Penerbitan Universiti Malaya.
Saleh, M. M. (2013). The Palestinian strategic report 2011/2012. al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies & Consultations.
Salleh, H, M., Samsudin, M. & Mansor, S. (2019). Penglibatan organisasi badan bukan kerajaan dalam pendidikan di TANAH MELAYU, 1920-1950-an. Malaysian Journal of History, Politics & Strategic Studies, 46(2), 118-149.
Salleh, R. (2003, 16 Oktober). Tunku Setiausaha Agung pertama OIC. http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/SpecialCoverage/OIC2003/index.asp?y=200 3&dt=1016&pub=OIC2003&sec=Rencana&pg=or_08.ht
Shahrulnizam, M. S., Ruslan, A., & Nurazmallail, M. (2019). Peranan Non-Government Organisation (NGO) dalam Komuniti Masyarakat Menurut Islam. Seminar Institusi Islam 2019. ISBN: 978-967-2171-91-1.
Shiraaj Zainul Abiddin, Mohamed Khalis Mohamed Rafi, Azlan Helmy Abd Samat, Khairul Ahmad, Ahmad Munawwar Salim. (2019). Humanitarian relief mission for central sulawesi earthquake- tsunami- land liquefaction disaster: role as forward medical team. Putrajaya Update on Emergency Medicine conference 2019.
United Nation. (2023). Recent Deadly Escalation between Israeli Forces, Palestinian Armed Groups ‘Another Reminder’ of Volatile Situation, Special Coordinator Tells Security Council. https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15293.doc.htm (Archief by 20 March, 2023)
VPM(a). (2013). The KL Palestine film festival. http://vpm.org.my/events/events/66-the-kl-palestine-film-festival
VPM(b). (2013). Our Visit to Ybhg Tun Mahathir Office. http://vpm.org.my/events/events/61-our-visit-to-ybhg-tun-mahathir-s-office.
VPM(c). (2014). Save al Quds campaign. http://vpm.org.my/events/events/121-save-al-quds-campaign.
Zulhazmi, H. Mohamad M., Norasikin, A. L., Mirratul Mukminah, J., Nurfarhana Alyssa, A. A., Mohd Adib, I., Mohd Asri, M. T. (2023). A Rational Plan of Energy Performance Contracting in an Educational Building: A Case Study. Sustainability.