KUALA LUMPUR – It is for the best that Putrajaya not reveal who had threatened Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for voicing Malaysia’s unwavering support for Palestine, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Zambry also said Anwar had reiterated that Malaysia is not shaken by such threats, and would remain firm in its stand on the matter.
“It is best that we don’t name who they (people who threatened Anwar) are in Dewan Rakyat, but like Anwar stressed multiple times, we (Malaysia) are not shaken by any threats,” Zambry said in response to a query from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PN), during the question-and-answer session in Parliament today.
Earlier, Fadhli had urged Zambry to name the countries that threatened Anwar and that the government should voice its objections to the relevant ambassadors.
“I think the minister should reveal which country dared to threaten our beloved PM. We cannot stand seeing our PM being pressured like this. If they dare to pressure our PM, then Malaysia must voice its objection to their ambassadors in Malaysia,” said the Pasir Mas MP.
On Tuesday, Anwar revealed that he had received threats, warnings, and criticism from those supporting the Israeli regime amid the Zionist state’s escalating violence in Gaza.
In a fiery speech at the Malaysia Stands with Palestine gathering held at the Axiata Arena, he said: “I faced criticism and attacks from parties in the United States and Europe, but as long as I have the mandate of the people, I will not yield to threats.”
“Malaysia, a free and independent nation, will persist in its quest for justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.”
During today’s Dewan Rakyat sitting, Fadhli also questioned why the government had not urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to haul up Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Zambry answered that Israel has been under investigation by the ICC since March 2021 for its crimes against Palestine since 2014, but Malaysia will continue to collaborate with members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and like-minded nations so that Israel will also be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He added that Malaysia had taken part in providing its advisory opinion via a written statement focused on the abuse of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, which was submitted to the ICJ registrar on July 25, 2023.
“In addition, Malaysia is also mulling joining an oral session with several other nations to get advisory opinions for the ICJ, showing Malaysia’s strong commitment to supporting Palestine.”
Zambry added that he believed Malaysia has been one of the most vocal nations in voicing its stance in support of Palestine.
“We have increased the pressure to the highest level on the international community to stop the Zionist regime from killing Palestinians. Malaysia has continued to underscore the prejudice shown by the West in handling the cruel Zionist regime without any punitive action.”
He also said that Anwar has been meeting and engaging with leaders from key countries on the issue to voice Malaysia’s stance in the conflict, in the hopes of initiating definite changes that would stop the war and help the Palestinians as soon as possible. – October 26, 2023