Israel-Gaza: Malaysia will maintain ties with Hamas says PM Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysia's leader Anwar Ibrahim has said his nation will maintain ties with Hamas and will "not punish" the group.
Malaysians should "unanimously back" the Palestinian cause, the prime minister told parliament on Tuesday.
Mr Anwar was responding to a proposal by US lawmakers to sanction Hamas's foreign supporters.
Analysts say this is also politically expedient in a country where support for Palestinians has long been bipartisan as well as widespread.
An opposition lawmaker had asked Mr Anwar about the Malaysian government's stand after the US House of Representatives last week voted to sanction foreign supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
"I will not accept any threats, including this... This action is unilateral and not valid, because we as members of the United Nations only recognise decisions made by the UN Security Council," Mr Anwar said.
Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation, has long advocated for the Palestinian cause. It does not recognise Israel diplomatically and has maintained that no such recognition will be given until a two-state solution - one for the Israelis and one for the Palestinians - is realised. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a frequent host to conferences on Palestinian issues.
The 76-year-old Mr Anwar has also advocated for Palestinians since his university days. Like in many parts of the world, Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza have sparked mass gatherings and prayer rallies in Malaysia.
But it has also led to some displays of support for Hamas. A video of a group of teachers dressed up as militants and toting toy rifles went viral on TikTok during Malaysia's Palestine Solidarity Week at the end of October, prompting Mr Anwar to call on schools to monitor activities during the week.
Mr Anwar's mentor-turned-political rival Mahathir Mohamad, has also made strong remarks in support of the Palestinian cause, calling out other nations for their silence over what he has called "Israeli war crimes".
Mr Anwar therefore cannot afford to be seen as having weak views at a time when religious conservatism is rising in Malaysia, Julia Lau and Francis Hutchinson, researchers at the Singapore-based think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, wrote recently.
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