KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will convey the cries of Palestinians directly to US President Donald Trump at the Asean Summit in October, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He stressed that while the invitation extended to Trump was part of Malaysia’s duty as Asean chair, the summit would provide a crucial platform to deliver a unified Asean position on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“The invitation to President Trump is an obligation as the host of the Asean-US Summit.
“He has accepted, and I believe we should meet face to face so all Asean member states, all countries can make their positions clear,” Mohamad told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 19).
Hasan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) had asked if Malaysia would “roll out the red carpet for a US President whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent Gazans in this genocidal war.”
Mohamad added that Malaysia is considering using the opening chairman’s statement to highlight the bloc’s concern and to press Washington to act responsibly in helping to resolve the situation in Gaza.
“We want to emphasise through the Asean Chairman’s Statement during the summit’s opening that the United States, as a major power, must shoulder its responsibility so that the situation in Gaza can be resolved,” he said.
Mohamad pointed to Asean’s recent joint statement condemning the atrocities against Palestinians as an example of regional unity.
“We should not mix matters up – this is a multilateral engagement.
“We will continue to carry our bilateral relations separately, but in Asean, we have already achieved consensus with a joint statement expressing deep regret over the cruelty inflicted on the people of Palestine.
“Besides, we are confident that the United States, especially Trump, also wants to see this Israeli brutality brought to an end,” he said.
