Anwar Ibrahim Reveals US Pressure Because Malaysia Refuses To Consider Hamas Terrorist

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim/PHOTO via Instagram @anwaribrahim_my

JAKARTA - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was under pressure and threats from the United States because the reluctance of the neighboring country was against action and considered Hamas a terrorist.

Anwar at the Parliamentary Session in Kuala Lumpur, said it was related to pressure and threats sent to Malaysia.

First, he said, the Malaysian Ambassador in Washington DC had been summoned by the United States State Department questioning Malaysia's decision on the Arab-Israeli issue, particularly Israel's violence against Gaza.

"And our Ambassador firmly stated our position," said Anwar as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 31.

Second, he said the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had received a dremarch (intermediary application) from the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur twice, namely on October 13 and most recently on October 30.

"Requesting that the state does not continue its establishment, especially our refusal to regard Hamas as a terrorist organization," said Anwar.

Anwar said he had answered this in the action of the Malaysian Association with Palestine at the Bukit Jalil Arena Axiata Arena stadium recently.

Anwar emphasized that Malaysia remains in its stance, based on humanitarian considerations, taking the invasion carried out by Israel to be illegal from a legal point of view and international principles.

Politics and chaos that occurred in Gaza did not occur last month, it has been going on for decades, and since 1948, Anwar said.

Therefore, ruling out all violence and aggression, Israeli occupations in Arab and Palestinian territories are unforgivable.

Anwar then compared the attitude of western countries that considered what Russia was doing in Ukraine as aggression, but when Israel colonized Palestinian territory for decades it was considered legitimate and unopposed by them, including the United States.

Nelson Mandela and the decades-long African National Congress are considered by western countries as terrorist organizations. In fact, according to Anwar, what they did was an act against the brutality of apartheids who became invaders in South Africa.

Anwar said what the agencies, including Hamas, did was protest against Israeli occupation and violence against Palestine, especially Gaza.

"So our views are consistent," said Anwar in response to questions from MP Suhaizan Kaiat.