Motion To Discuss Banning Of Trade Ties With Israel Rejected

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- The Lower House of Parliament has rejected a motion calling for the House to pass a resolution to ban all forms of relations with Israel, including trade ties, either directly or indirectly. Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said the decision was made on the ground that the matter had been raised before, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry had given its clarification on Monday. "Hence, I reject this motion under Standing Order 18 (7) (b)," he said Thursday. The motion was tabled by Er Teck Hwa, a member of parliament from opposition party who asked the House to debate the motion under Standing Order 18, urging the prime minister to withdraw all Cabinet decisions made in 1996 on trade ties with Israel. Er also urged the government to recognise Hamas, the democratically elected ruling party in Palestine. -- BERNAMA