Kuala lumpur: Malaysia wants the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen its role as the collective voice of Muslim countries on the international stage, particularly in championing the rights of the Palestinian people. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the organisation needed to make its voice more effective, ensuring that its resolutions did not end as mere statements but led to concrete action.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized the importance of the OIC's influence, representing a bloc of Muslim countries with a large membership, being heard by the international community. He expressed concern over the ineffectiveness of previous resolutions, stating, "Resolution after resolution has been adopted, but they have had no impact." Mohamad is leading the Malaysian delegation to the one-day extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC to discuss the latest developments concerning Palestine.

He noted that Malaysia also wanted the OIC and Arab League to play a more coordinated role in addressing developments in Palestine, including maintaining diplomatic pressure on Israel. Key priorities included ensuring the implementation of a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly food and medical supplies, to Palestinians in Gaza. Mohamad highlighted that much of the aid remained held up at the Rafah crossing, as the route for humanitarian assistance had yet to be fully opened. He urged the United States to exert pressure on Israel to open the crossing, particularly for urgently needed medical supplies and food.

Furthermore, Mohamad announced that the meeting had agreed to appoint Mauritania's Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as the new OIC Secretary-General. He expressed confidence in Ismail's ability to strengthen the organisation's role, citing his extensive international experience, including service with the United Nations and as Mauritania's Foreign Minister. Mohamad stated, "We are confident that with Ismail's extensive background and experience, he will be able to play a more effective role in elevating the voice of Muslim countries and the OIC."

He stressed the importance of bringing the position agreed upon at the meeting before the leaders of member states and eventually to the United Nations. Mohamad concluded that discussions at the UN level should be followed by action at the UN Security Council to secure impactful decisions, as debates at the UN General Assembly alone would not suffice.