KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s new government has categorically rejected media reports that it might normalize ties with Israel, in what analysts said on Thursday was an affirmation of the Southeast Asian nation’s foreign policy.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah issued a statement on Wednesday evening saying Malaysia stood by its “unwavering commitment” to supporting the Palestinian cause and struggle against the “continued Israeli illegal occupation and systematic oppression.”

The statement came as Israel’s minister of regional cooperation Issawi Frej told Frej told Erem News Agency on Monday that Malaysia was among the countries that might join the Abraham Accords — American-sponsored agreements brought about normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

“Malaysia categorically rejects a statement reportedly made by an Israeli official during a recent interview with Erem News claiming that Malaysia may join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel,” Abdullah said.

He added the Palestinian people have been suffering “discriminatory policies, denial of basic human rights, imposition of harsh living conditions, as well as confiscation of their land and property” for many decades.

“These and other inhumane acts committed by Israel, the occupying power, against the Palestinians are tantamount to the crime of Apartheid and clearly inconsistent with the pursuit of peace and peaceful co-existence in the region,” he said, vowing Malaysia’s continuous bilateral and international support for the Palestinian struggle and an independent State of Palestine.

As Malaysia’s new government took office only slightly more than a month ago, Abdullah’s stance is seen as an affirmation of the country’s foreign policy, in which the Palestinian cause plays a major role.

“Over the years the Palestinian cause has been shaped up by successive Malaysian governments to be perhaps the single most important and perennial wider foreign-affairs issue,” Dr. Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, told Arab News.

“The exaltation of the Palestinian cause has become so entrenched in the Malay-Muslim psyche that it would perhaps be unthinkable to adopt the Abraham Accords as some more pragmatically minded Arab countries did.”

For Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin, senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, the foreign minister’s statement was also the Malaysia’s government’s attempt to distance itself from Israel’s negotiations with other Muslim countries

“The Malaysian government viewed it as important and necessary to make clear the country’s position on the Abraham Accords so as not to be dragged into Israel’s public diplomacy of being recognized by more countries in the Islamic world through normalization of bilateral relations,” he said.

The move, however, was not only directed toward the international community, but also to highlight the new government’s support for Palestine, which is entrenched in Malaysia’s domestic politics.

“Malay Muslim politicians in Malaysia use Palestine issue to gain support among Muslims,” Prof. James Chin, director of Asia Institute at University of Tasmania, told Arab News. “It is quite clear this government is Malay first, they are using this issue to mobilize support on the Malay ground.”