KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu’s youth wing Armada has criticised Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for missing a vital opportunity to voice Malaysia’s position on the Gaza genocide and to signal support for the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) during this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Armada information chief Harris Idaham Rashid said that by not attending the assembly in New York, the Prime Minister failed to harness the global platform to condemn the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, and neglected to advocate Malaysia’s backing for the GSF humanitarian mission.
“The assembly is a crucial platform because based on UNGA president Annalena Baerbock’s speech, 189 UN member states delivered speeches at the General Debate, including those from 124 heads of state and government.
“According to Armada’s research, Anwar has not delivered a national statement at the UNGA since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct 7, 2023,” he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 3).
Harris added that the party’s data show that Anwar’s last address on Malaysia’s behalf at the UN was on Sept 22, 2023 (UNGA 78).
“This means that the Prime Minister has never voiced Malaysia’s stance about the genocide on the UNGA stage. Malaysia has only been represented at UNGA 2024 and 2025 by the Foreign Minister (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan),” he said.
Harris said Armada regretted that other world leaders used the UNGA stage this year to issue strong condemnations of Israel’s actions.
He also said Anwar's decision of choosing a diplomatic visit to Timor-Leste over attending UNGA shows a misalignment of priorities.
“Some, such as France and the United Kingdom, reportedly even recognised Palestine during their UNGA remarks yet Malaysia, given its interest in the GSF mission should have been more vocal,” he noted.
The GSF mission, comprising more than 500 activists from 44 countries, including Malaysia, is sailing towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break Israel's blockade, carrying essential supplies for Palestinians affected by ongoing Zionist attacks.
In total, 10 ships were carrying 23 Malaysians in the humanitarian mission.
