Pmx S Obsequious Welcome Of Trump A Diplomatic Embarrassment Smacked With Hypocrisy

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WELCOMING world leaders to the country is one thing but going overboard in doing so is another.
Receiving foreign guests must be predicated on respect and dignity – the pre-requisites for maintaining good diplomatic relations.
Unfortunately – and regrettably – the reception accorded by the Madani government to US President Donald Trump bordered on obsequiousness and servility.
There was no necessity in the first place to have invited Trump. The 47th ASEAN Summit could have proceeded smoothly without his presence – and certainly without the excessive deference shown by the ASEAN chairman, the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Even before Trump’s visit, there was already public opposition due to the United States.

The nebulous peace Trump once promised has yet to materialise given Israel’s continued arrogance and intransigence.
Yet, Anwar went ahead with the invitation, seemingly to showcase his personal rapport with Trump rather than to advance regional or moral imperatives.
Upon his arrival, Trump performed a dance in front of the crowd – joined by Anwar who appeared all too eager to please.
MUST WATCH!
President @realDonaldTrump dances at Malaysian arrival ceremony  pic.twitter.com/e7Zrw3L35Y
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) October 26, 2025

High degree of hypocrisy
In his characteristic style, Anwar quipped about having gone to jail, likening it to Trump’s own legal troubles.
Why he chose to invoke his imprisonment remains baffling given that his incarceration was hardly comparable to the moral struggles endured by freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela.
Anwar even boasted of travelling in Trump’s bullet-proof vehicle – “The “Beast” – in a breach of diplomatic protocol.
 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was chauffeured to KLCC which is the 47th ASEAN Summit venue with guest-of-honour Donald Trump by his side in the Cardillac One a.k.a. The Beast (Image credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook)Such antics serve no national purpose. They merely underscore a troubling tendency toward personal glorification and political theatrics.
Anwar seems to forget that he is the PM of Malaysia – not a celebrity seeking validation. His excessive deference to Trump reflects a misguided sense of diplomacy – one that Malaysia does not need, especially when the plight of Palestinians continues unabated.
On the Palestinian issue, Trump cannot both pinch the baby and rock it to sleep. He cannot claim to seek peace while arming Israel to decimate Palestinians.

At least the opposition had the decency to voice its objection to Trump’s visit, recognising that no genuine advocate for Palestinian nationhood should be pandering to those complicit in their suffering.
The manner in which Trump was received is a clear indication that Anwar cares little about the future of the Palestinians. No self-respecting leader would seek cordial ties with Trump without first prioritising the Palestinian quest for justice and statehood. 
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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