Malaysia plans to reiterate its firm Gaza stand during an upcoming meeting with United States (US) President Donald Trump at the ASEAN Summit in October. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed Malaysia’s commitment as ASEAN Chair to champion the voice of solidarity with Palestine on the regional stage, aiming to capture the attention of prominent global leaders. This initiative underscores Malaysia’s steadfast advocacy for justice in the region and its dedication to influencing international discourse on critical issues. The country seeks to ensure that its principled position on the conflict and the plight of the Palestinian people is heard and understood at the highest levels of global leadership. Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair provides a crucial platform for elevating these significant concerns.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted that the meeting with President Trump would serve as a critical opportunity. During this engagement, Malaysia intends to strongly urge President Trump to fully grasp and acknowledge Malaysia’s clear and unwavering position in its pursuit of justice, particularly concerning Gaza and Palestine. Anwar conveyed these intentions during a press conference with Malaysian media held at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit. This significant summit, which he attended at the personal invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was convened as an immediate and direct response to the Zionist Israeli aggression against Doha, which occurred on September 9. Malaysia’s participation in this extraordinary summit, as articulated by Anwar, served as a tangible demonstration of the collective unity among Islamic and Arab nations. It showcased their resolute condemnation of Israel’s actions and their unequivocal expression of full solidarity with Qatar, a nation that has been directly impacted by recent aggression. This collective front underscores a unified regional voice against ongoing conflicts and violations of international norms, emphasizing the need for coordinated international responses to address these escalating crises and ensure accountability.
Earlier, in his delivery of Malaysia’s National Statement at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a strong call for severe punitive measures against Israel. He emphasized that Israel continues to oppress the Palestinian people relentlessly and persistently violates international law through its attacks on numerous countries. Expanding on this critical point, Anwar further stressed the imperative for the global community, and particularly Arab countries, to take decisive steps. He urged them to sever all diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, underscoring that mere verbal declarations of positions, while significant, are ultimately insufficient without concrete, follow-up actions. This resolute stance from Malaysia reflects a growing sentiment for tangible responses to the prolonged conflict and humanitarian crises in the region. The call for severe punitive measures is rooted in the belief that strong international pressure is essential to halt the ongoing aggression and ensure justice for affected populations, promoting a more stable and equitable global order.
Prime Minister Anwar outlined a clear three-pronged approach for effective action against Israel. The first crucial step involves the immediate cessation of all diplomatic relations. He noted that this measure has already commenced among several Arab nations, indicating a precedent and a path forward for others to follow. The second imperative, as articulated by Anwar, is to terminate all trade dealings with Israel. This economic pressure is designed to further isolate Israel and compel a re-evaluation of its policies and actions, thereby impacting its capacity to continue operations deemed in violation of international norms. The third and final recommendation involves the strategic employment of every diplomatic wisdom available. This is particularly crucial when engaging with countries that maintain close ties with the US. The objective is to ensure that decisions made on the international stage are aligned with established international law, the principles upheld by the United Nations, and the broader demands of universal humanity. These proposed actions underscore a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving justice and upholding international norms through a combination of diplomatic and economic levers, highlighting a proactive approach to conflict resolution and human rights advocacy.
“First, sever all diplomatic relations, as has already begun among several Arab nations. Second, end all trade dealings with Israel. Third, employ every diplomatic wisdom at our disposal, particularly with countries close to the US, so that decisions are made in line with international law, the United Nations, and the demands of universal humanity,” he said.
The Prime Minister further emphasized a critical evolution in the nature of the issues being addressed at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit. He stated that these discussions were no longer confined solely to the situations in Gaza and Palestine. While these remain central, the scope has broadened to encompass several other nations that have also become targets of Israeli actions. He specifically identified Gaza and Palestine as continuing to face brutal assaults. Beyond this, he highlighted that the conflict now directly involves many countries such as Qatar, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. According to the Prime Minister, this expansion of targets unequivocally demonstrates an unprecedented level of greed and arrogance in the contemporary world. This broader perspective suggests a more pervasive and destabilizing pattern of aggression that extends beyond localized disputes, affecting regional stability and international relations on a larger scale, necessitating a more comprehensive and concerted international response to address the multifaceted challenges.
“Firstly, the question of Gaza and Palestine, which continue to be brutally assaulted. Secondly, it involves many countries such as Qatar, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. This shows that in today’s world, there has never been such unprecedented greed and arrogance,” said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was accompanied by a distinguished delegation during his attendance at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit. The delegation included Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, signifying the diplomatic gravity of Malaysia’s presence and its commitment to international engagement. Also part of the esteemed group was Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, underscoring the moral and religious dimensions underpinning Malaysia’s stance and its holistic approach to global humanitarian issues. Additionally, senior officials from the Foreign Ministry formed part of the delegation, ensuring comprehensive diplomatic representation and support for the Prime Minister’s engagements and statements at the summit. Their collective presence highlighted Malaysia’s unified governmental approach to these critical international issues, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to advocating for justice and stability in the region through coordinated diplomatic efforts. The inclusion of various ministerial representatives underlines the government-wide importance placed on these discussions.
Background
The Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit was convened as an immediate response to the Zionist Israeli aggression against Doha on September 9. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended this significant summit following an invitation from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This participation underscores Malaysia’s deep concern regarding the ongoing regional conflicts and its commitment to international solidarity. In his national statement at the summit, the Prime Minister urged for severe punitive measures against Israel due to its persistent oppression of the Palestinian people and its continuous violation of international law through attacks on multiple sovereign nations. This firm stance by Malaysia aligns with the broader unified efforts of Islamic and Arab nations to condemn Israel’s actions and express unequivocal solidarity with affected countries like Qatar. The summit served as a crucial platform for these nations to articulate their collective disapproval and advocate for decisive international intervention. Malaysia has consistently voiced its commitment to justice, particularly for Gaza and Palestine, and seized the opportunity at this summit to reinforce its position on the global stage, demonstrating a consistent and principled foreign policy.
Malaysia’s Call for Decisive Action
- Malaysia to press Gaza stand with US President Donald Trump at ASEAN Summit in October.
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit at Qatar’s invitation.
- Malaysia calls for severe punitive measures against Israel and urges severing diplomatic and trade ties.
- The conflict now involves Qatar, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, beyond Gaza and Palestine.
- Anwar stressed ending diplomatic and trade relations with Israel as decisive action.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, Malaysia intends to leverage the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October, specifically during its scheduled meeting with United States President Donald Trump, to further advance its Gaza stand. As the current Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is committed to amplifying the collective voice of solidarity with Palestine within this influential regional forum. The primary objective is to capture the attention and understanding of major world leaders, including President Trump, regarding Malaysia’s clear and firm stance on the pursuit of justice for Gaza and Palestine. Beyond diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Anwar has urged for tangible actions. These include a global call, particularly to Arab countries, to sever all diplomatic relations and cease all trade dealings with Israel. He also advocates for employing diplomatic wisdom, especially with nations close to the US, to ensure that international decisions are made in accordance with international law, United Nations principles, and the demands of universal humanity. The ongoing discussions at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit have expanded beyond Gaza and Palestine to include countries like Qatar, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, indicating a broader regional challenge that Malaysia is committed to addressing through concerted diplomatic and economic pressure, aiming for lasting peace and justice. [Source]
