Speeches & Statements

NATIONAL STATEMENT BY

DATO' SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

AT THE 51ST COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE OIC MEMBER STATES

“THE OIC IN A TRANSFORMING WORLD”

21 JUNE 2025

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE

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His Excellency Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye

His Excellency Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the OIC

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Brothers and Sisters,

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

1.   I begin by extending my appreciation to the Government of Turkiye, for the generous hospitality accorded to me and my delegation.

Mr. Chairman,

2.   “The OIC in a Transforming World”, is an apt theme, calling us to advance peace, socio-economic development, and collectively tackle the multiple crises facing our world.

3.   Some of these crises, in particular, deserve the urgent attention of the OIC.

4.   The first is the unresolved Question of Palestine. This is not merely a political deadlock,

Mr. Chairman.

5.   It is a stain on the conscience of humanity, and a shameful legacy of displacement and illegal occupation that continues to fuel instability and suffering.

6.   The Israeli regime’s siege of Gaza, the mass starvation, the blockade of aid delivery, and the murder of civilians are systematic crimes.

7.   In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli military operations and settlement-expansion are dangerously altering the region’s demographic and geographic reality.

8.   These are crimes that must not be left unchecked, for impunity will only reinforce the deadly cycle of violence and abuses.

9.    The international community’s inaction only lends substance to Israel’s belief that it is immune from consequence, even when it provokes war with a sovereign country.

10.   As we have seen in recent days, Israel’s illegal aggression against Iran has resulted in the deaths of innocent Iranian civilians.

11.   The UN Security Council’s paralysis over Israel’s atrocities is utterly embarrassing.

Mr. Chairman,

12.  There can be no peace without justice. The very notion of justice demands that we confront the ridiculous and impossible conditions being placed on Palestinian statehood.

13.   Had the same conditions been applied on the Occupier instead of the Oppressed, would the former even exist today?

14.   Malaysia remains steadfast in its solidarity with the Palestinian people.

15.  We urge the global community to exert all efforts to realise an independent State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Mr. Chairman,

16.   Incidents of discrimination and attacks against Muslims have reached unprecedented levels.

17.   Normalised Islamophobia has become the main justification of Israel’s crimes against Palestine and Iran, as well as of the persecution of Muslims in some countries.

18.   Malaysia urges for a strong partnership between the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General, in focusing on promoting understanding across faiths, and fighting against bigotry.

Mr. Chairman,

19.   At the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit led by Malaysia recently, a new historic economic partnership was forged.

20.   Malaysia believes that this can support developing States to circumvent the impacts of the US-China trade war.

21. The OIC, as the second-largest intergovernmental organisation in the world, holds vast potential for strategic partnership. 

22.   Malaysia therefore proposes the expansion of the OIC Trade Preferential System, and the reduction of trade barriers, to strengthen economic ties among Member States.

Mr. Chairman,

23.   We stand at a critical juncture. The OIC’s relevance depends on the strength of our institutions, including the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission.

24.   Malaysia is committed to the promotion of human rights, with an emphasis on economic, social, and cultural rights. These form the bedrock of sustainable development.

25.   By focusing on these areas, we can enable a resilient and enduring socio-economic growth.

26.  Malaysia is therefore confident that our candidate for the Commission’s membership for the 2025–2028 term, Dr. Aishah Bidin, whose vast experience and valuable expertise, including in the realm of sustainable development, will meaningfully contribute to this goal.

27.   In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, Malaysia stands ready to forge an enduring partnership that brings lasting benefit, and a more promising future for our Ummah.

28.   I thank you.