MALAYSIA EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT TOWARDS UNSC

SEPANG (Malaysia), June 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is dissapointed that the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) would not agree to a stronger
presidential statement condemning the brutal attack by Israel on an aid convoy
bound for Gaza.

"UNSC has only expressed deep regret and not condemning the act by Israel.
We are disappointed that this has not come from the Council," said Foreign
Minister Anifah Aman.

Speaking to reporters at KL International Airport here Monday after arriving
from Singapore to attend the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN-GCC Countries meeting,
Anifah said Malaysia felt that "the UNSC should have done much more than what
they have done."

"What happened was that the UNSC was not prepared to condemn what Israel had
done," he said.

Anifah said Malaysia "would definitely" submit a protest to the UNSC.

Malaysia, he said, would have preferred a full independent investigation to
be conducted on the attack on the innocent humanitarian activists in an
international water which was a breach of international law.

Malaysia also would like to call for the immediate release of the vessels
and civilians held by Israel, he said.

Anifah said there would be double standard as it seemed now that Israel was
"above the international law".

"This is not a battle ground. This is humanitarian aid that Palestine
deserves to be assisted," he said.

Nevertheless, he gave an assurance that there would be an international
intervention to release not only the activists but the also ships that had been
detained.

"There is a Noble Laureate and a former assistant of the secretary general
of the UN. They cannot be construed as terrorists.

"What is happening in international water could be terrorism itself. An act
of Israelis boarding the ship in international water," he added.

-- BERNAMA