Malaysia has welcomed the US-Iran understanding while urging all parties to uphold the ceasefire and respect international law, says Anwar Ibrahim.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and Iran to end months of hostilities, but has cautioned that the ceasefire remains fragile and vulnerable to violations.
Speaking at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said strict adherence to the terms of the ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping must be treated as a matter of utmost urgency.
“Food and energy prices remain high as countries seek to secure supplies. Billions of dollars, which could have been used for social and economic development, have instead been diverted to procuring essential goods.
“These are not mere statistics on paper; they impact livelihoods,” he said.
Turning to the wider situation in West Asia, Anwar said the international community should not lose sight of the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
“We all know this conflict did not happen in a vacuum. Our attention should not be drawn away from the overall situation in West Asia, the relentless bloodletting of Palestinians, the genocide in Gaza and the incessant bombardment of Lebanon,” he said.
Anwar also called for an end to violence in other conflict zones, including Ukraine and Sudan, urging all parties to prioritise civilian protection and cease hostilities.
He warned that respect for international law was being steadily eroded as power politics and narrow national interests increasingly took precedence over legal obligations and established norms.
He cited Malaysia’s recent experience with the cancellation of its naval strike missile delivery by a Norwegian supplier, despite almost full payment having been made, describing it as an example of a broader pattern of double standards.
“Is it acceptable for some countries to ignore international laws and norms while others are subjected to the strictest standards of compliance?”
While Malaysia would continue pursuing diplomatic and legal remedies in good faith, he questioned whether countries in the Global South were being treated fairly by Western partners.
“If this is how partners in the West are going to treat those in the Global South, if the principle of ‘one rule for me and another for thee’ is indeed the norm they want to put forward, then it does not bode well for our future as equitable partners and friends,” he said.
