KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been praised for his no holds barred remarks to US President Joe Biden over the slaughter of Palestine people in the ongoing military aggression by Israel on Gaza.
Prolific activist Dr Omar Suleiman, among many social media users on X (formerly known as Twitter), did not miss a chance to express his support for Anwar’s stance.
“I’m grateful to my dear friend (Anwar) for his bold and courageous in-person confrontation of Joe Biden on his hypocrisy amidst the ongoing genocide of Gaza.
“We need more and more leaders to follow this example despite the consequences,” said the founder and president of Yaqeen Institute of Islamic Research.
Meanwhile, X user and political analyst Ahmad Faruqui said that Anwar, in his speech, had said what was needed to be said and that he admired the 10th Prime Minister’s candour and even more, his values on humanity.
Anwar, in his speech towards Biden at the 30th Apec Economic Leaders Meeting in San Francisco, condemned the ongoing war and emphasised that more lives will be lost as long as the ceasefire is delayed.
His message on every platform was simple and clear – the killing and atrocities in Gaza have to stop and there were no two ways about it.
“We’ve been asked to condemn the aggression in Ukraine. But some remain muted in front of the atrocities inflicted on the Palestinians particularly.
“It doesn’t concern their sense of justice and compassion expressively how wonderful it is if we are steadfast in upholding justice,” Anwar said.
He also pointed out that Biden, who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Caucus between 2001 to 2009, had once condemned the criminal prosecution against Anwar when he was serving his time behind bars.
“It (the condemnation) is purely based on the principles of justice and human rights.
“That’s all that we are doing. Stop these atrocities, stop the killings of women and children, now!
“Because every day (that passed) means more babies will be killed and then (Israel) will pursue the final solution.
“I’m saying this because it’s important in Apec for this sort of minimum understanding and collaboration.”
Anwar also participated in the Apec CEO Summit and delivered a public lecture entitled ‘Superpower rivalry and rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific: the view from Southeast Asia’ at the University of California, Berkeley.
Malaysia, he said, unequivocally condemned the bombing of civilians, homes and hospitals, as well as the consequential atrocities against innocent children, women, and men being carried out day and night in Gaza with impunity.
The death toll in the ongoing crisis has surged to 12,000 casualties, since it began on October 7. – November 19, 2023