 Economic Leaders' Week in San Francisco this November, contingent upon the positions of its regional allies.){kind=link}
In a significant diplomatic move, Malaysia has announced that it will make a decision regarding its participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Week in San Francisco this November, contingent upon the positions of its regional allies. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed this during a session of the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia’s lower house of parliament.
Read Story In Detail
The decision stems from Malaysia’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China to gauge their positions on the matter. Anwar stated, “We are looking into it. We have contacted Asean and China on their position, and we will make a decision based on the position of our friends.” The question arose in response to a query from Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, a member of the parliament, regarding whether Malaysia intended to boycott Apec in solidarity with Palestine.
Anwar’s remarks also shed light on the pressure Malaysia has encountered from the United States due to its stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict. He revealed that the Malaysian envoy to the United States had been contacted by American authorities who inquired about Malaysia’s position on the conflict, particularly the violence in Gaza caused by Israel. Anwar emphasized that Malaysia’s position had been unequivocal, and it declined to condemn Hamas’ actions and designate the group as terrorists. This engagement reflects Malaysia’s commitment to upholding its principled stance and its consideration of regional partnerships in its decision-making