The Islamist party PAS has criticized Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his statement claiming that he was “threatened” over his criticism of the Israeli government, calling it “strange and amusing”. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a solidarity gathering for the people of Palestine, explaining that the threats came in the form of statements from European MPs. PAS expressed disappointment that Anwar did not provide further details about the threats, stating that the government would issue a statement on the matter.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan emphasized that Malaysia’s strong support for the Palestinian struggle and criticism of Israel is well-known and not new. He also highlighted that Malaysia has official diplomatic relations with the Palestinian government and Hamas under previous leadership. Takiyuddin argued that if such threats truly exist, Anwar should have engaged the envoys of the involved countries to register Malaysia’s protest rather than making a public statement without clarification.
Takiyuddin further criticized Anwar for making an “alarmist” statement during an event that should have been solely dedicated to the Palestinian struggle, accusing him of using the occasion to showcase his leadership. The Islamist party did not elaborate on the specific details of Anwar’s statement or the potential repercussions it may have.
