Malaysia, Indonesia Denounce Israeli Occupation During ICJ Proceedings

Malaysia, Indonesia Denounce Israeli Occupation During ICJ Proceedings

The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia have both denounced Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip and urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands illegal. The two nations were among 52 countries who were given the chance to address The Hague-based court on the legal consequences of Israel’s … Read more

Anwar Ibrahim, Anti-Semite?

Anwar Ibrahim, Anti-Semite?

Let’s assess what we have at hand. As far as I’m aware, Anwar Ibrahim hasn’t deplored Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Gazan groups for the rape and murder of Israeli civilians, nor for taking them hostage. His government did, though, blame the ongoing crisis in Gaza on the “politics of dispossession at the hands of … Read more

Malaysia Bars Israeli Cargo Vessels From Its Ports Over Gaza Conflict

Malaysia Bars Israeli Cargo Vessels From Its Ports Over Gaza Conflict

Malaysia has banned all Israeli-flagged cargo ships from docking at its ports in what it described as a response to Israel’s “cruel” assault on the Gaza Strip. The ban, announced in a statement yesterday by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, singles out ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., Israel’s largest shipping company, which Malaysia has allowed to … Read more

Recapping the First Year of Malaysia’s Foreign Policy Under Anwar Ibrahim

Recapping the First Year of Malaysia’s Foreign Policy Under Anwar Ibrahim

Last November, Anwar Ibrahim was elected as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, at a turbulent time both domestically and internationally. Malaysian politics was in turmoil following the “Sheraton move” of 2020, which disposed of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government. Over the next two years under the Perikatan Nasional government, the COVID-19 crisis, economic pressures, political infighting, … Read more

Gaza In Their Prayers 

Malaysian PM Leads Large Pro-Palestine Rally in Kuala Kumpur

In April 2021, Israel held out an olive branch of sorts to Southeast Asia’s Muslim-majority nations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had signed a landmark peace treaty with four Arab countries the previous year and believed the time was ripe for a rapprochement with the non-Arab Muslim world. Israel’s leader was hopeful that the momentum from the accords would “expand the … Read more

Malaysia Says It Won’t Recognize Unilateral Sanctions on Supporters of Hamas

Malaysia Says It Won’t Recognize Unilateral Sanctions on Supporters of Hamas

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that his government will not recognize any unilateral sanctions, following the proposal of a U.S. law that would impose sanctions on foreign supporters of Hamas and other militant groups operating in Palestine. On November 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, which is … Read more

US Has Pressured Malaysia to Shift Stance on Hamas, Anwar Says

US Has Pressured Malaysia to Shift Stance on Hamas, Anwar Says

ASEAN Beat | Diplomacy | Southeast Asia The country’s pro-Hamas stance may be distasteful to many, but the U.S. is unlikely to expend significant diplomatic and political capital in order to change it. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addresses a pro-Palestine rally at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 24, 2023. Credit: X/Anwar Ibrahim Advertisement The … Read more

Malaysia to Probe Social Media Firms For ‘Blocking’ Pro-Palestine Content

Malaysia to Probe Social Media Firms For ‘Blocking’ Pro-Palestine Content

Advertisement Malaysia’s communications regulator will issue a warning to social media firms TikTok and Meta for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms, the country’s communications minister said yesterday. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that social media platforms were restricting pro-Palestinian content, and that many parties within Malaysia … Read more

Malaysian PM Leads Large Pro-Palestine Rally in Kuala Kumpur

Malaysian PM Leads Large Pro-Palestine Rally in Kuala Kumpur

Advertisement Yesterday evening, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led a large rally to condemn Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip, the latest sign of support for the Palestinian cause in recent weeks. More than 16,000 protesters attended the rally at the indoor Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Channel News Asia reported, and were made up … Read more

The Growing Significance of Malaysia and Indonesia’s Non-Recognition of Israel

The Growing Significance of Malaysia and Indonesia’s Non-Recognition of Israel

Advertisement In the wake of Israel’s heavy-handed attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past week, several Middle Eastern nations have been forced into an uncomfortable position. The United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain are caught between a need to respond to the actions undertaken by Israel, with whom they have only recently normalized ties, … Read more