Mahathir Urges PM Anwar Ibrahim To Cancel Donald Trump's Invitation To The ASEAN Summit

JAKARTA - Former Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, asked PM Anwar Ibrahim as Chair of ASEAN to cancel an invitation to United States President Donald Trump to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur at the end of October 2025.

In a video statement in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (27/9), Mahathir said the United States under Trump's leadership was the main mastermind behind the genocide that Israel had committed against the Palestinian people.

"I ask Anwar Ibrahim to cancel the invitation to Donald Trump, because he [Trump] supports the crimes against humanity that Israel is currently carrying out against Palestine," Mahathir said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, September 27.

He stressed that the European countries' decision to recognize Palestinian independence has given a very clear message that the genocide committed against the Palestinian people is no longer acceptable.

According to Mahathir, European countries including Britain, which used to be a strong ally of the US, have taken steps that Trump's administration does not like.

"The Spanish and Italian sea troops sent warships to the Mediterranean waters to guard the Global humanitarian ship Sumud Flotilla accompanied by the Malaysian people, who delivered humanitarian aid to Palestine," Mahathir said.

He added that the killing of the people and children in Palestine continues to be carried out by the US and Donald Trump. This was proven by US use of veto rights in ceasefire efforts in Gaza and deliberately hindering humanitarian aid to Palestine.

"So now apart from being killed with bombs and other weapons, they [Palestinian people] are now killed with hunger that was deliberately created," said Mahathir.

He also called for Malaysia not to remain silent. PM Anwar's government, according to him, must appear at the forefront to express Malaysia's stance on the atrocities of Israel and the US.

Mahathir emphasized that Malaysia's attitude towards the US and Trump is the country's moral responsibility.

Malaysia needs to clearly show Israel and the US that although Malaysia is a small country, it remains outspoken against atrocities, Mahathir said.

He reminded that several Malaysians who participated in distributing humanitarian aid with Global Sumud Flotila were betting their lives on the high seas.

According to Mahathir, the US is still providing funds, weapons, and army aid to Israel to continue killing Palestinians.

"Donald Trump and AS hands, are not only covered in blood from Palestinian children, but they are also with Israel destroying Gaza," he said.

By canceling an invitation to Trump, Mahathir said, Malaysia will give a clear message that Trump is a criminal and children's killer.

"Humans like Trump, even though they are very powerful, are not accepted in Malaysia," Mahathir said, asserting.