Malaysia willing to be peace broker in Darfur conflict

"We are always open to negotiations and we are prepared to play our role, if needed, to bring about peace in Darfur," Datuk Seri Najib Razak said, after launching an aid programme "Projek Tabu- ng Dapur Untuk Darfur" by the Malaysian Mosque Youth Council and TV3 at his office yesterday.

Some 200,000 people have died in Darfur over the past four years and two million have fled their homes, according to the United Nations. Also present were council chairman Ismail Basri, Media Prima Berhad news and current affairs division director Datuk Kamarulzaman Zainal, council adviser brigadier-general Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom and project ambassador, artiste Asmawi Ani or better known as Mawi.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, during his visit to refugee camps in Darfur on April 17, noticed the dire need for reconstruction in the western region of Sudan, Najib said.

"Malaysia has close ties with Sudan. We respect the sovereignty of Sudan as a nation and we are confident in the ability of its government and the people to resolve the conflicts there, particularly in Darfur." Najib said Malaysia had many reasons to be concerned with what was happening in Darfur.

"The international community, particularly the Muslims, turns to us when discussing humanitarian issues in Darfur as Malaysia is the chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

"In addition, more than 90 per cent of the people there are Muslims and Sudan is an OIC member." As a recognised Islamic country whose leaders had succeeded in establishing peace and stability despite its multi-ethnic composition, Malaysia could play an effective role in the mediation process, Najib said.

Source: NST, 31-July-2007