Anwar: Malaysia has right to speak up, calls for end to hostilities in the Middle East
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that Malaysia as a sovereign country should be able to speak up and take a stand over US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
Anwar defended Iran's retaliation against Israel's attacks, but at the same time called for justice, peace and an end to violence.
As an 'independent and sovereign country,' Anwar said, "Malaysia has to speak our stance.'
The prime minister's remarks were from an audio recording made today in Kuching, Sarawak.
Earlier, Anwar said Israel should not act provocatively and violently towards other countries, and said it was quite fair that Iran chose to fight and respond to Israel's attacks.
The situation has now become murkier due to interference from external countries including the US, he said.
Anwar also stressed the importance of human lives and justice, as well as the impact of the war globally.
'If the Strait of Hormuz is closed, that will be a big problem to the global economy," he said.
Previously, Anwar had also said Malaysia as a sovereign nation must stand up for Iran's right to retaliate to uphold its dignity.
On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, while Iran retaliated with missiles.
The two countries have been engaged in combat for more than a week now.
Newswire Reuters today reported that the ongoing conflict has resulted in Iran recording at least 430 deaths and 3,500 injured persons, while Israel has recorded 24 civilian deaths and 1,272 injured.
Today, the US carried out airstrikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, with US president Donald Trump saying that the strikes had taken out three main nuclear sites there.
Israel was previously reported saying that its strikes have delayed Iran's potential to develop a nuclear weapon by at least two or three years, while Iran has said its nuclear programme has peaceful aims.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Israel says it has delayed Tehran's nuclear programme by 2 years
Western powers have repeatedly expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of Iran's nuclear programme. (EPA Images pic) JERUSALEM : Israel claimed today it has already set back Iran's presumed nuclear programme by at least two years, a day after US President Donald Trump warned that Tehran has a 'maximum' of two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes. Trump has been mulling whether to involve the US in Israel's bombing campaign, indicating in his latest comments that he could make a decision before the two-week deadline he set this week. Israel said today its air force had launched fresh air strikes against missile storage and launch sites in central Iran, as it kept up a wave of attacks it says are aimed at preventing its rival from developing nuclear weapons – an ambition Tehran has denied. 'According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb,' Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar said in an interview published today. Saar said Israel's week-long onslaught will continue. 'We will do everything that we can do there in order to remove this threat,' he told German newspaper Bild. Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany met their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva yesterday and urged him to resume talks with the US that had been derailed by Israel's attacks. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, 'We invited the Iranian minister to consider negotiations with all sides, including the US, without awaiting the cessation of strikes, which we also hope for.' But Araghchi told NBC News after the meeting that 'we're not prepared to negotiate with them (the US) anymore, as long as the aggression continues'. Trump was dismissive of European diplomatic efforts, telling reporters, 'Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.' Trump also said he's unlikely to ask Israel to stop its attacks to get Iran back to the table. 'If somebody's winning, it's a little bit harder to do,' he said. Any US involvement would likely feature powerful bunker-busting bombs that no other country possesses, aimed at destroying an underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordo. On the streets of Tehran, many shops were closed and normally bustling markets largely abandoned yesterday. A US-based NGO, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, said yesterday – based on its sources and media reports – that at least 657 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians. Iran has not updated its toll since Sunday, when it said that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Since Israel launched its offensive on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites but also hitting residential areas, Iran has responded with barrages that Israeli authorities say have killed at least 25 people. A hospital in the Israeli port of Haifa reported 19 wounded, including one person in serious condition, after the latest Iranian salvo. Israel's national public diplomacy directorate said more than 450 missiles have been fired at the country so far, along with about 400 drones. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted military sites and air force bases. 'Madness' Western powers have repeatedly expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of Iran's nuclear programme, questioning in particular the country's accelerated uranium enrichment. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that while Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to 60%, there was no evidence it had all the components to make a functioning nuclear warhead. The agency's chief, Rafael Grossi, told CNN it was 'pure speculation' to say how long it would take Iran to develop weapons. Britain's foreign secretary David Lammy said the conflict was at a 'perilous moment' and it was 'hugely important that we don't see regional escalation'. Arab League foreign ministers gathered in Istanbul late yesterday to discuss the war, Turkish state news agency Anadolu said, on the eve of a weekend gathering of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Switzerland announced it was temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran, adding that it would continue to fulfil its role representing US interests in Iran.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Embrace diversity as a strength, not a source of division
KUCHING: Racial diversity should be embraced as a strength to enhance national unity, rather than as a battleground for rivalry or a means to showcase superiority and ego, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said that in many other countries, such diversity has led to racial and religious hostility, eventually burdening the nation and negatively affecting the people. "Unity within our multiracial society is increasingly essential to ensure that Malaysia remains strong amid the current uncertain global geopolitical landscape. "Never underestimate the potential problems if you are disunited. "The geopolitical conditions are so challenging and alarming. "The future is never certain. But what we can ensure is a united Malaysia," he said. Anwar was speaking at the 2025 Sarawak-level Gawai Dayak celebration dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Sunday night, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were the guests of honour at the event. Anwar said as prime minister, he feels proud in showcasing the country's cultural and racial diversity, especially as Malaysia assumes the Asean chairmanship this year and when receiving foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders. He said this was exemplified during a recent meeting with ConocoPhillips chairman and chief executive officer Ryan Lance, where he wore a traditional Iban outfit gifted to him earlier by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. "So I told him (Ryan) about Sarawak, about the beauty of the culture, that's what we have to do. "And I take great pride as a Malaysian to speak to one of the great multi-billion dollar companies, probably one of the biggest oil companies in the world and number one in the United States," he said. Meanwhile, Anwar also announced that he will meet with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto this Friday to discuss a proposal for Sarawak to be positioned as a hub for the Asean Power Grid (APG). He said Sarawak, with its strengths in hydroelectric, gas and hydrogen energy, has the potential to spearhead the APG, not only by linking to Sabah and Indonesia's Kalimantan, but also extending to the southern Philippines.
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Embrace Diversity As A Strength, Not A Source Of Division
KUCHING, June 22 (Bernama) -- Racial diversity should be embraced as a strength to enhance national unity, rather than as a battleground for rivalry or a means to showcase superiority and ego, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said that in many other countries, such diversity has led to racial and religious hostility, eventually burdening the nation and negatively affecting the people. 'Unity within our multiracial society is increasingly essential to ensure that Malaysia remains strong amid the current uncertain global geopolitical landscape. 'Never underestimate the potential problems if you are disunited. The geopolitical conditions are so challenging and alarming. The future is never certain. But what we can ensure is a united Malaysia,' he said. Anwar was speaking at the 2025 Sarawak-level Gawai Dayak celebration dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here tonight, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were the guests of honour at the event. Anwar said as prime minister, he feels proud in showcasing the country's cultural and racial diversity, especially as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship this year and when receiving foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders. He said this was exemplified during a recent meeting with ConocoPhillips Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Lance, where he wore a traditional Iban outfit gifted to him earlier by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. 'So I told him (Ryan) about Sarawak, about the beauty of the culture, that's what we have to do. And I take great pride as a Malaysian to speak to one of the great multi-billion dollar companies, probably one of the biggest oil companies in the world and number one in the United States,' he said.
