KUALA LUMPUR, November 1 – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that the United States Department of State communicated with the Malaysian Ambassador in Washington, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, regarding Malaysia’s position on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Anwar disclosed this during the Prime Minister Question Time session, emphasizing Malaysia’s commitment to its stance on the issue and its unwillingness to succumb to intimidation from any party.
Putrajaya received a démarche notice from the United States on the Palestine-Israel conflict on October 13. Additionally, the US Deputy Chief of Mission to Malaysia, Chargé d’Affaires Manu Bhalla, met with a deputy secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the matter. A démarche is defined as a formal diplomatic representation of an official position or views on a given subject, used for persuasion, information gathering, or protesting actions by a foreign government. Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s support for Palestine and emphasized that the stance was shared with 119 member countries of the United Nations during the Emergency Meeting of the UN Security Council on October 27.
He also expressed support for the Education Ministry’s Palestine Solidarity Week initiative, stressing that Malaysia champions the issue from the perspective of defending human rights and humanity. Malaysia’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and criticizing Israeli authorities has faced criticism and diplomatic interactions. However, Anwar underscored that the issue transcends religious boundaries and is a matter of human rights and justice. The developments highlight the ongoing discussions and negotiations surrounding Malaysia’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict and external pressure on the country regarding its position on the issue.
