Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
21 December 2023 | 12:11 p.m. CAT
1-min read

In this week’s Asia Pacific Report on Radio Islam International, Sanusha Naidu, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue, discussed Malaysia’s recent ban on ships en route to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports. In addition, she outlined the tragic increase in care killings in Japan, as well as the condemnation of COP28 for not doing enough to address the use of fossil fuels.

As a direct result of Israel’s massacre on Gaza, shipping lanes across the Suez Canal into the Red Sea have become an area guarded by Yemen Houthis to halt the delivery of supplies to Israel.

Naidu discussed Malaysia’s recent announcement to ban the Israeli shipping firm, Zim, “which is a major supplier of goods for Israel in an out of the Southeast Asian Channel,” Naidu explained.

Naidu discussed the decision taken by many shipping companies to reroute their ships due to the escalating risks in the Red Sea.

“So this whole area now has become a major choke point for Israel in terms of its global supply of goods and services and we just heard recently that BP has decided to stop using that route and this is now part and parcel of the effect of the conflict in Gaza and course the fact that the Houthi in Yemen [are using] that space to show support for Hamas,” Naidu said.

The focus shifted to the distressing situation in Japan, where the pandemic has strained the frail care and caregiving system. Rising costs, coupled with psychological and social challenges, contribute to a surge in caregiving killings. Japan faces the urgent need for reform, prompting calls for younger individuals and foreign assistance in caregiving services.

Naidu also addressed the fact that pacific nations are grappling with rising sea levels. Naidu underscored their condemnation of the COP28 deal, asserting that insufficient measures against fossil fuel usage jeopardise these island nations. The interview emphasised the urgent need for global leaders to commit to addressing climate change and its devastating impact on vulnerable regions.

Listen to the Asia Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Habib Bobat.