PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the international community to act decisively to end the violence in the Middle East, calling for pressure to be placed on Israel to halt its provocations and aggression.
Anwar stressed that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved if Israel ends its hostile actions.
“For genuine peace to be realised, Israel must be pressured to stop its provocative and violent behaviour towards other nations,” he told reporters in Kuching on Sunday (June 22).
Commenting on Iran’s military response, Anwar said it was expected given the earlier attacks, and reiterated that Malaysia maintained a fair and balanced stance.
“When you launch attacks and kill people, of course there will be retaliation from Iran. Our position is a fair one.”
Anwar also expressed concern over the deepening crisis in Gaza and the broader region, citing the continued killing of civilians, including women and children, as well as escalating tensions due to strikes on Iran and foreign interference from the United States.
“Now they are attacking Iran, and Iran has chosen to fight back. The intervention by external powers such as the United States will only escalate the conflict further,” he said.
He also warned that the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have serious implications for the global economy.
US President Donald Trump said early on Sunday that US forces had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.
The attacks came after Israel launched a military assault on Iran on June 13, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran against Israel.
Emphasising Malaysia’s stance, Anwar said the country must continue to speak out in defence of human rights and justice.
“For me, the most important thing is the sanctity of human life and justice. Stop the violence.
“People say Iran should not respond, but why is Israel allowed to act with such impunity?
“Malaysia is compelled to voice our position. We must not allow a sovereign and independent nation to be silenced when it comes to speaking out about human rights and justice,” he added.
