PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday delivered a strong rebuke of Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian territory, labelling them “punitive” and “unprovoked” acts that breach international law and risk sabotaging diplomatic efforts for peace.
Speaking at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar warned that the attacks were a blatant attempt to derail ongoing negotiations and “shatter hopes for a peaceful resolution in the region.”
“Such actions, carried out with utter impunity, constitute a blatant violation of international law, further eroding the norms that hold the global order together,” he said.
“We call on those with power and influence to speak plainly and act decisively to restrain further escalation.”
Also in attendance were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the Chairman of ISIS Malaysia, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah.
Turning to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, the Prime Minister expressed grave concern over Israel’s continuing military campaign, which he described as a tragedy exacting a devastating toll on a defenceless civilian population.
“The staggering civilian casualties, overwhelmingly women and children, demand far more than pious proclamations of concern,” he said.
“They require concerted international action to uphold humanitarian law, secure an immediate ceasefire, and ensure the unfettered delivery of aid to those in desperate need.”
Anwar cautioned that the very credibility of the rules-based international order is “on trial,” urging global powers to act firmly to prevent further destabilisation.
Shifting focus to the Asia-Pacific region, Anwar highlighted parallel pressures in key hotspots such as the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea.
“In the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, familiar flashpoints flicker. Here, as ever, we must insist on the primacy of dialogue over disruption, of law over disorder, of restraint over escalation,” he said.
Malaysia, he added, envisions a regional security structure that is inclusive and stable, rather than one dominated by rigid blocs or tenuous power balances.
“While we do not pretend to be able to reshape the region to fit our ideals, we can act to prevent its worst outcomes. Stability is not guaranteed, but neither is chaos inevitable,” Anwar said.
“What we do now – how we manage tensions, balance relationships, and defend our interests – will decide how the region weathers the storms ahead.”
He also cited the recent earthquake in Myanmar as a sobering reminder that natural disasters do not wait for political stability.
“This is not just another humanitarian crisis, it is a moral test for all of us in the region,” he added.
During a question-and-answer session following his address, Anwar called on ASEAN to assume full responsibility for addressing the crisis in Myanmar.
“It would be a disgrace if ASEAN failed to regard the Myanmar crisis as a shared responsibility,” he said. “Of course, we welcome Europe, America, China or the rest, they can come in and help. But it is an ASEAN responsibility. It’s an immediate task of the neighbour.”
The Prime Minister also pointed to the regional impact of the conflict, citing the plight of more than 200,000 stateless Rohingya people who have sought refuge in Malaysia, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
“So, we must speak up and take action. Is it easy? Certainly not, this is a conflict rooted in decades of enmity and hatred. But there is no viable solution except for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the divisions among us,” he said.
Anwar added that the situation in Myanmar was among the main topics discussed during his meeting with Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta in Putrajaya on Wednesday. - June 19, 2025
