ERDOGAN CALLS FOR FAIRER GLOBAL ORDER, SLAMS INJUSTICES IN GAZA

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad & Nabilah Saleh

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has reiterated his call for a more just and inclusive world order, criticising the existing global system for favouring a handful of powerful nations while sidelining the oppressed.

Speaking at a public lecture during his visit to Malaysia, Erdogan said the world is witnessing a "perfect storm" of political, social, and economic fractures, worsened by growing protectionism and unilateral actions by major powers.

"The founders of the global system are the winners of World War II. These same countries are the ones who set up the rules of the game in many areas, from international relations to the economy, finance, and trade," he said.

Erdogan arrived in Malaysia on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Elaborating further, Erdogan argued that the imbalance in global wealth and power has left a significant portion of the world’s population in poverty.

"Isn't there a problem stemming from today’s system if 55 per cent of the world's population can only obtain 1.3 per cent of global income?" he asked, questioning the fairness of the existing order.

Erdogan also lamented the continued marginalisation of the Islamic world, which he said remains underrepresented in international institutions.

"A structure that excludes a quarter of the world's population cannot be expected to project security and serve global stability and peace," he stressed.

Calling for urgent reforms, Erdogan reiterated his famous slogan "The world is greater than five", referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) -- the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), France, China and Russia.

"The system that was designed 80 years ago under extraordinary conditions does not fit today’s landscape.

"We openly voice our objection to this unjust order, where the rightful is not the powerful, but the powerful is always the rightful," he added.

According to Erdogan, meaningful global change requires not just condemning injustices but actively working to correct them.

"For real change to take place, it is not enough to object only to the injustices that we are facing. We must also show the courage to open our hearts to the injustice and suffering of others," he said.

The Turkish leader devoted a significant portion of his speech to the Gaza crisis, denouncing Israel’s military actions and accusing the West of failing the Palestinian people.

"In Gaza, where the word ‘dignity’ is embodied in every one of them, from young to old, from men to women, they did not surrender, did not kneel before the oppressors, and did not abandon their homeland," he said.

He revealed that Türkiye has provided over 100,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has cut trade ties with Israel in protest of its military offensive.

"We have been carrying out very intense diplomacy since the very first day of the massacre in Gaza. We condemned the atrocities and became the loud voice of Palestine on all platforms, including the United Nations General Assembly," Erdogan said.

However, he lamented that the UNSC failed to act, allowing Israel’s offensive to continue unchecked.

"The Western world, in particular, has failed the test during these 471 days," he said, referring to the 61,000 Palestinians killed, most of them women and children.

Erdogan also demanded that Israel be held accountable for the massive destruction in Gaza.

"Israel and the Netanyahu government are responsible for this heavy bill. Israel must pay this bill on its own," he said, adding that the estimated cost of Gaza’s reconstruction stands at US$100 billion.

"After causing this much destruction, this much suffering, this much atrocity, Israel cannot be allowed to continue on its way as if nothing had happened," he said.

He pointed to Türkiye’s own rapid post-earthquake rebuilding efforts following the February 7, 2023, disaster, which claimed over 53,000 lives and destroyed 311,000 buildings.

"We removed the rubble, started construction, and delivered 201,000 houses so far, less than two years after the earthquake. We can achieve the same reconstruction success in Gaza," he said.

He concluded by reiterating Türkiye’s commitment to supporting an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"I believe that all of this is both a duty of brotherhood and a debt of conscience to the oppressed Palestinian people," Erdogan said.

-- BERNAMA