On July 11, 2010 – Perdana Global Peace Organization (PGPO) held a one-day international conference at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The theme of the conference was “Breaking the Siege: In the spirit of Rachel Corrie and Mavi Marmara“.

The keynote speaker was the Chairman of PGPO, former Prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who said: “We are gathered here not only to honour the Turkish martyrs, who were brutally slaughtered by Israeli commandos on the MV Mavi Marmara, but also to counter the lies and propaganda by Israel and the Zionist-controlled international mass media claiming the passengers, specifically the martyrs, were terrorists and the killings justified. More importantly, we must send a message of hope and solidarity to the Palestinians that the peace-loving people of the world will never abandon them, come what may, and we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in their struggle for liberation. The Muslim world continues to be taken in by (the United States) President Obama’s rhetoric he is committed to change and he is for peace. His actions contradict his spoken words. Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama then escalated the war in Afghanistan, a war started by President George W. Bush. It is not surprising the UN chose not to allow a debate on Malaysia’s resolution condemning Israel for its dastardly acts.”

The conference was hosted by renowned television personality Wan Zaleha Radzi, and attracted several politicians, media practitioners, bloggers, students and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The participants included former UN assistant secretary-general and PGPO international advisory panel member Denis J. Halliday, international activist onboard Rachel Corrie Jenny Graham, Turkish IHH’s (Insani Yardim Vakfi, Humanitarian Relief Fund, or IHH) Dr Hassan Huseyin Usyal who was onboard Mavi Marmara, Astro Awani broadcast journalist Ashwad Ismail, University of Ottawa Centre for Research on Globalisation Prof Michel Chossudovsky, ambassador of Turkey to Malaysia Serap Ataay, deputy head of mission Embassy of Iran and Chief Representative of the League of Arab States Mission in New Delhi Dr Ahmed Salem Saleh Alwasihi.