KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today clarified that Malaysia was not among the countries invited to the International Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, as the meeting was limited to those giving full support to a 20-point peace plan that Malaysia could not endorse unconditionally.
Anwar said Malaysia’s position on the matter remains one of conditional support, insisting that any peace initiative must include a comprehensive solution that recognises Palestine as a sovereign state and guarantees the right of return for displaced Palestinians.
“We are among the few countries that gave conditional support. Most of the countries, including those present in Sharm El-Sheikh, expressed full support,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during Prime Minister’s Question Time today.
“The countries invited were those that fully supported the 20-point peace plan. Malaysia was not included because our support comes with reservations,” he said.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who asked why Malaysia was absent from the summit.
Anwar said Malaysia’s position is aligned with several Islamic nations, including Qatar and Jordan, which view the ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank as unacceptable and call for an immediate halt to the killing of civilians, including women and children.
“The situation in Gaza is dire, almost to the point of starvation. Therefore, we stated that any initiative — including the one taken by President Donald Trump — deserves support, but with conditions,” he said.
He added that Malaysia’s stance was also shared by Hamas, which recently sent him a letter dated October 7 expressing its willingness to support peace efforts while maintaining that any resolution must be comprehensive and uphold the rights of Palestinians.
“Even Hamas representatives who attended the Sharm El-Sheikh meeting made it clear they are open to peace efforts but stressed the need for a complete settlement — one that ends hostilities, ensures compliance with international law and conventions, and allows humanitarian aid into Gaza,” he said.
Anwar noted that as of yesterday, only 167 aid trucks had been allowed to enter Gaza, despite 600 being promised.
He said Malaysia’s conditional backing was consistent with its long-standing position that peace cannot be achieved without addressing core issues such as the occupation of Palestinian territories and the recognition of Palestinian sovereignty.
“Some have asked why we support the peace plan at all. It is because we want the destruction and killing — including of women and children — to stop immediately,” he said.
