Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan today defended the government’s decision to invite Donald Trump to the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, despite concerns over the US president’s role in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Mohamad said Trump‘s attendance at the summit later this year would allow regional leaders to express their concerns.
“I think it’s better if we can meet face-to-face.
“Asean countries can state for themselves, just like how we expressed (our concerns) to the US secretary (Marco Rubio) who attended the 58th Asean Summit (last month),” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
In July, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Rubio that the atrocities in Gaza, Palestine, must be halted immediately.
Mohamad added that as the Asean chair, Malaysia must ensure the bloc’s collective voice is clearly conveyed.
He was replying to Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang), who had asked if Malaysia would roll out the red carpet for Trump in October, claiming that the president’s “hands were tainted with blood of innocent Palestinians”.
Mohamad also pointed out that Asean had issued a joint statement to express regret over the crimes committed against the Palestinians.
The US remains one of Israel’s staunchest allies.
According to The Times of Israel, Trump appears to have backed Tel Aviv’s planned expansion of the war into Gaza City.
Trump, on his Truth Social site, said hostages held in Gaza would only be freed “when Hamas is confronted and destroyed”.
