The Foreign Minister emphasized that Malaysia must take the demarche notice it received from the United States regarding its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict seriously. Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that it is crucial to consider the notice within the appropriate context. He acknowledged that this is not the first time such a notice has been received, as there were three instances in the past. Malaysia must respond appropriately and take necessary actions, as the country has already clearly expressed its position on the conflict.
In response to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s interjection, Zambry emphasized that a demarche is a regular practice in diplomacy. Ahmad Fayhsal remarked that the situation did not have the dramatic tone described by Tambun (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). However, if there is indeed a threat, he emphasized that it should be considered a national threat that Wisma Putra, the Foreign Ministry of Malaysia, must address adequately.
During Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar revealed that the United States had put pressure on Malaysia regarding its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict on multiple occasions. The Malaysian envoy to the United States was summoned by the American authorities to question Malaysia’s position, particularly regarding the violence in Gaza caused by Israel. Anwar stated that Malaysia’s ambassador steadfastly reiterated the country’s position, as Malaysia refused to condemn Hamas or label the group as terrorists.
The Prime Minister further shared that Malaysia had received a demarche from the US Embassy on October 13th, according to the information provided by the Foreign Ministry. A demarche refers to the formal diplomatic representation of one government’s official position to another government. On October 30th, a US Embassy official requested Malaysia to use diplomatic channels to discourage a country from taking advantage of the conflict in Gaza through proxies. Although Anwar did not explicitly mention the country, it is believed that the US was referring to Iran.
Reiterating Malaysia’s independent stance, Anwar emphasized that the country will maintain its firm commitment to humanitarian considerations and condemn Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine. Anwar pointed out the inconsistency in the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine compared to the lack of condemnation for the Israeli occupation, even though it has persisted for many years. In a speech at the Malaysia for Palestine Rally, Anwar highlighted that Malaysia has faced criticism from pro-Israel countries, particularly the United States, for showing sympathy towards Gaza and the Palestinian people.
