Malaysia Will Continue Championing Palestinian Cause Says Pm

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s efforts to assist those affected by oppression are longstanding, dating back to support given during the Bosnian War and the apartheid era in South Africa. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will continue championing the plight of the Palestinian people and nation, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Responding to a Bloomberg report that he had been advised to “soften his rhetoric” on the Hamas-Israel war, Anwar said Malaysia was a free and sovereign nation.
“We have our own stance and have expressed it firmly on various platforms. We are not choosing to oppose anyone, but wherever there is oppression and cruelty, we must stand in defence of the oppressed,” he told a press conference after concluding his official visit to Bahrain at the invitation of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, Bernama reported.
The prime minister also said that Malaysia’s efforts to assist those affected by oppression were longstanding, dating back to support given during the Bosnian War and the apartheid era in South Africa.
“On the issue of Palestine, the scale of destruction they have suffered is far greater than any of these past struggles. That is why we have conveyed to our friends in the Gulf countries, the Arab world, and the Islamic world that we must provide assistance. In fact, what we have contributed so far, in my view, is too little.
“Perhaps in the coming days, when there are events for Palestine, I want the people to come together and share their views,” he said.
Bloomberg reported that Anwar had been advised by government officials to tone down his stance on the Israel-Hamas war to avoid any scrutiny or retaliation from US president Donald Trump.
The concerns came amid increasing fears that Trump could hit the country’s export-driven economy with US tariffs, according to sources close to the matter.
The sources said there were fears that the US could make a move against Malaysia’s semiconductor industry and AI-powered data centre investments.
‘Don’t heed Mahathir’s claims’
Separately, Anwar dismissed claims by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the government had prevented several foreign leaders from meeting with him.
“Which foreign leader wants to meet with him? If they want to meet him, what’s the issue? If his old friends wish to meet him, there is no problem.
“Recently, leaders from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey visited Malaysia, but none requested to meet him. And if they did, I wouldn’t say no. They are free to meet him, there is nothing wrong with that,” he said, adding that Mahathir’s allegations should not be entertained.
“He makes accusations every day. He claims he has no money, yet his children have over RM1 billion. That is not an allegation, it’s (based on a declaration),” he said.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki previously said that two of Mahathir’s children, Mokhzani and Mirzan, had declared a combined total of assets worth over RM1.2 billion. - FMT

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