COLOMBO: The Cabinet will discuss the need to set up a Malaysian embassy in East Jerusalem, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Malaysia must delve into the prospect thoroughly as it also needs to seek the views of the Palestinian authority, Najib said at a press conference with the Malaysian media in concluding his three-day official working visit to Sri Lanka today.
He was commenting on Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for Muslim countries to establish their own embassies in the holy city to counter any move to proclaim Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.
Erdogan was quoted as saying that Turkey would set up its embassy in East Jerusalem in the near term to recognise the city as the Palestinian capital.
“We will look into the proposal from various aspects. We have not obtained any input from the Palestinian authority. We must get their opinion first. We don’t want to supersede them, although we are committed to fighting for Palestinian rights,” Najib said.
“(Malaysia) is against the move to proclaim Baitulmaqdis (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel. This is our firm stance,” he added.
Meanwhile, Najib said Malaysia and Sri Lanka are committed to concluding talks on a free trade agreement by next year or early 2019.
The commitment followed his meeting with Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during a luncheon this afternoon.
“Sri Lanka needs to conclude its FTA talks with Singapore first, which is 90 per cent completed. Then the focus will be on the FTA with Malaysia,” Najib said.
He said there were also proposals for Malaysia to set up a palm oil refinery in the country for export to India, and explore opportunities in the Sri Lankan tourism sector.
Earlier today, Najib launched Axiata Group Bhd’s US$15 million Dialog Axiata Digital Innovation Fund to help Sri Lankan digital entrepreneurs expand their business.
He also attended the signing of commemorative plaque for Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd’s lubricants blending plant here.
Najib is flying to Maldives today (Tuesday) for an official working visit.