PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned that the latest ceasefire agreement in Gaza must not descend into “another pause between wars”, calling instead for a decisive global commitment to justice, reconstruction and the Palestinian right to statehood.
Delivering his keynote address at the Kuala Lumpur Conference on a New Just and Humane International Order today, Anwar criticised the lack of a comprehensive peace framework and expressed reservations about the fragility of the truce reached in Sharm El Sheikh.
“Malaysia has spoken up for peace wherever we can. Now, with the latest fragile ceasefire in place, we are monitoring developments by the minute,” he said.
“Malaysia, alongside South Africa, Bolivia and Brazil, fully supports the ceasefire, but it must lead to rebuilding Gaza, restoring dignity and recognising the Palestinian right to live freely in their own land,” he added.
Although Anwar expressed support for the 20-point peace initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, he noted that key issues remain unresolved — including the Palestinians’ right of return and a clear, enforceable path to an independent Palestinian state.
In a pointed critique of Israel’s leadership, Anwar said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had “shown no intention of honouring peace commitments,” and warned that allowing the cycle of destruction in Gaza to repeat would be a collective moral failure.
“Morality and power are never easily reconciled, yet they must coexist if order is to endure. Without moral anger, there can be no justice,” he said.
“But leadership must ensure that moral conviction becomes policy, and compassion turns into action that endures.”
He emphasised that the ongoing crisis in Gaza and what he termed “Zionist atrocities” were symptoms of a broader global failure to uphold justice and humanity — a crisis Malaysia would no longer remain silent about.
Beyond rhetorical support, Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s tangible aid efforts, citing the RM100 million in humanitarian aid already committed to Gaza.
He also announced that Malaysia is collaborating with Japan and other East Asian and Middle Eastern partners to mobilise further assistance for the Palestinian people.
“The tragedy unfolding in Gaza is not just a regional issue, but a test of global conscience,” Anwar said. “We must not allow it to become just another chapter in an endless cycle of despair.” - October 14, 2025
