By : Nedal Zubeidi
Jordan Daily – Malaysia and Jordan have strengthened their bilateral ties across various fields since they established diplomatic relations in 1965, showing mutual respect and solidarity on issues ranging from humanitarian aid , academic collaboration, and support on the international stage.
Malaysian ambassador to Jordan Mohamad Nasri Abdul Rahman told Jordan Daily , the two countries cooperated in areas of common interest that emphasized the unity of Muslims.
“At the bilateral level, Malaysia and Jordan are cooperating in various areas of mutual interest that give importance to the solidarity of the Ummah.”
One notable instance of Malaysia’s support was evident in its backing of Jordan’s UN Resolution, advocating for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. “Malaysia supports all efforts undertaken by the Jordanian Government both in the international arena and in humanitarian assistance,” affirmed the Ambassador.
Moreover, Malaysia has stood by Jordan in legal matters concerning the Palestinian – Israeli-conflict, supporting Jordan’s legal arguments before the International Court of Justice. “Malaysia supports Jordan’s legal arguments before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the advisory opinion sought by the UN General Assembly.”
Humanitarian assistance remains a cornerstone of Malaysia’s engagement with Jordan, with over USD 80,000 contributed through the Humantarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) to the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) in the first half of 2023 alone. “Reflecting Malaysians’ solidarity and full support in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza,” noted the Ambassador.
Additionally, a total of $6.85 million has been credited to the AAKRP since the October 2023 incident. These contributions have been channeled through both the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, underlining Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to aiding the Palestinian people during times of crisis.
On the academic front, the ambassador noted the collaboration between Malaysia and Jordan has flourished, with initiatives spearheaded by Education Malaysia – Jordan, driving significant progress. “Our Education Malaysia Jordan has been instrumental in driving various initiatives to bolster this collaboration.”
Ambassador Abdul Rahman indicated that student numbers are rising, with 1,877 Malaysian undergraduates in Jordan and 1,633 Jordanian postgraduates in Malaysia.
Amidst ongoing challenges, Malaysia remains committed to supporting the Palestinians . “In the effort of providing exclusive support to the Palestinians,” the ambassador noted, “Malaysia’s humanitarian aid for Palestine called the “Ops Ihsan” has completed the shipment of three sorties of 100 tonnes of humanitarian supplies from KLIA ( Kuala Lumpur) to Al Arish Airport.”
