Anwar Ibrahim speaks as President Donald Trump watches during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. - AP
KUALA LUMPUR: The world needs leaders who are willing to bend rules to promote peace, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Sharing a light moment he had with United States President Donald Trump when they were seated together in the presidential limousine - The Beast – Anwar said that Trump had asked him to join him in the car.
“The world needs leaders who promote peace and to achieve that, we have to break some rules, as you did today, when the president asked me to join the car,” he said.
“I said that was against the security protocol rules, and he was delighted to break the rules,” added Anwar.
Anwar then said that the experience was a “nice ride” and said that “we shared many things in common; I was in prison and he nearly got there.”
“It was a very good exchange on a number of issues,” he said at a press conference that witnessed the signing of the KL Peace Accords between Cambodia and Thailand.
Anwar said he raised several issues with Trump during the car ride.
“I took full opportunity without US Secretary of State Marco Rubio knowing, exploring other issues,” he said.
At the same time, Anwar thanked Rubio and US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan for ensuring that Trump’s visit to Malaysia materialised.
“I was not sure when you said to me, yes Prime Minister Anwar I am coming. I am not sure because I deal with a lot of politicians, but you are an exception,” he added.
Anwar rode with Trump to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday (October 26) morning after the US President touched down at KLIA’s Bunga Raya Complex at 10.06am.
In May last year, Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes after he was found guilty on all 34 charges.
The case concerned a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election.
Trump was never jailed because he was granted an unconditional discharge.
Anwar was found guilty and sentenced to jail in 1999, but was released in 2004 after his sodomy verdict was overturned.
In March 2014, Anwar was sentenced to another five-year jail term for a second sodomy charge.
That sentence would bar him from contesting in GE14.
Following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th General Election, Anwar was freed due to a full and immediate pardon by then-Yang di Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.
