Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he had a heart-to-heart talk with US president Donald Trump on the conflict in Gaza during the ride from KLIA to the city, in the US presidential limousine known as “The Beast”.
Anwar said the opportunity to stress Malaysia’s stand on the situation in Gaza to the US president was a great relief to him, as he called on Trump for a comprehensive peace solution.
“I never used the word ‘20-point peace deal’. I said ceasefire, as comprehensive settlement or a comprehensive solution had been the agreed upon term.
“Trump told me, and later repeated it in the (Asean) meeting, that he will ensure that the peace deal and ceasefire succeeds, and that he will make sure of it,” the prime minister told the Dewan Rakyat today.
“I don’t know if many world leaders would choose to face Trump and deliver such a statement truthfully and firmly. But we did that.”
Anwar added that the conflict in Gaza was also raised with Trump during bilateral and Asean-US meetings.
He said he also shared with Trump about his past meetings with Hamas leaders.
“He looked a bit shocked and asked me why. I explained why. It was important for me to raise the humanitarian situation,” he added.
The prime minister said he urged Trump to stop Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, insisting that a ceasefire alone was not enough without recognition of Palestinian sovereignty.
“This is not something that can end with just a ceasefire. It must lead to a comprehensive solution, one that respects the full rights of the people of Gaza and Palestine.”
