The Malaysian Insight

UNITED States President Donald Trump may be his friend but when it comes to the status of Jerusalem, Prime Minister Najib Razak draws a red line.    

Najib, who has been criticised in the past for cozying up to Trump, said it was his duty as a Muslim to defend Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.  

“Yes, I was welcomed at the White House; yes, Donald Trump is a good friend of mine, but in terms of principles, I will not forsake the sanctity of Islam,” Najib said at a rally today to protest against the US’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.  

“And, in whatever situation, we can’t forget the first principle of Maqasid Shariah, which is to protect the religion,” he said at the Save Jerusalem rally in Putrajaya.

More than 1,000 Muslims gathered at the demonstration at Putra Mosque after Friday prayers to condemn Trump’s decision.

Najib also called on those gathered to put aside their political differences in the struggle against Zionists.

Najib said it was the duty of all Muslims to defend Jerusalem, the third holiest city in Islam. 

“We have no options. It is compulsory for us to stand up against them. It’s compulsory for us to be united,” he said, citing Allah’s warning that Muslims would become weak if they were not united. 

He also said that today’s rally would send a clear signal to the world that Muslims remained united. 

“It’s my dream to perform prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque without seeking permission from the Zionist (regime).

“I do not wish to perform my prayers under such circumstances,” he said.

On Trump’s threats to cut off funding for countries that voted for the United Nations’ general assembly motion against Trump’s decision, Najib said Malaysia has never begged or asked for loans from the US.

“They are the ones who asked us to purchase their aircraft. We invested in their country,” he said. 

“We have dignity, we have our strengths.” 

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who was scheduled to appear, failed to turn up. He was instead represented by his son, Muhammad Khalil.

“He will attend future rallies,” Khalil told reporters at the gathering. – December 22, 2017.