KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was at the centre of a heated debate in the Dewan Rakyat, as he defended his recent comments on Israel, calling for a better understanding of context.

On his first day back in Parliament after returning to Malaysia on Wednesday, Anwar clarified that his remarks about Israel in a CNN interview had been misunderstood.

He reaffirmed Malaysia’s long- standing position of not recognising Israel, which dates back to the tenure of former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

“In the context of the United Nations, Israel is considered a de facto state.

“However, Malaysia has never recognised it.

“From the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman until today, we do not recognise Israel,” Anwar said.

He further emphasised that while de facto states are recognised under international law as having the right to self-defence, Malaysia’s stance on Israel remains unchanged.

“I have always been firm and critical of Israel, even describing them as barbaric, cruel and violent.

“How can anyone accuse me of defending Israel with such strong words?” Anwar questioned.

The Prime Minister also criticised those politicising his remarks, pointing out that previous administrations had allowed Israeli aircraft and trade vessels to access Malaysian airspace and ports.

“Up until 2022, Israeli trade ships entered our ports, yet no one questioned this reality,” he said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin congratulated Anwar for maintaining Malaysia’s stance on Palestine but urged unity.

However, tensions flared when Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah called for a fair assessment of the Prime Minister’s statements.

“We must look at the full picture,” Mohd Shahar said in defending Anwar’s call for contextual understanding.

Hamzah then responded sarcastically, warning against posturing: “Don’t try to be a hero or act like you want to be a minister by speaking like this.”

Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul intervened, urging both MPs to end the exchange and proceed with their questions.

Anwar then reiterated the importance of focusing on the plight of Palestinians, condemning the suffering inflicted upon them.

“The situation in Palestine is unbearable. While we argue here, there seems to be no hope for resolution there,” he said.

In response to Mohd Shahar’s question about the costs of his recent overseas trips, Anwar assured the House that the government had significantly reduced expenses this time.

He explained a new strategy his government had implemented to minimise costs during such visits.

“This time, the government, in collaboration with the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, invited companies like Petronas, Sapura, Proton and semiconductor firms to join our delegation,” Anwar said.

These companies, he said, bore a significant portion of the travel costs.

“They paid for their own flight expenses, which means they covered about 75% of our overseas travel costs.

“The government supports these companies in importing and exporting, and they, in turn, assist with the travel expenditures,” he said.

Anwar added that while the exact figures are not yet available, as the delegation had only just returned, preliminary estimates indicate that these participating companies covered around 75% of the trip’s costs.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/22/pm-at-the-centre-of-debate-over-israel-remarks