Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has strongly criticised the United States and Israel for their airstrikes on Iran, labelling the attacks as outrageous violations of international law and United Nations charters.
In a motion presented in the Dewan Rakyat condemning the joint Israel-US operation, Anwar called on all parties involved to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Call for Peace and Negotiations
He urged the nations to return to constructive negotiations and work together with Gulf countries to promote peacemaking in the region.
“Go back to holding negotiations with one another and defend the independence and freedom of this region,” Anwar said.
He warned that without such efforts, similar incidents could spread to other countries, noting recent statements from Israeli leaders that included warnings directed at Turkey.
“In this case, there is no question that what has been done by Israel with the US’s support is clearly in violation of the principles of the world order,” he added.
Background of the Escalation
The US and Israel carried out a surprise attack on Iran on Saturday, resulting in the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iran targeting Israel as well as several Arab nations, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Assurance for Malaysians in the Region
Anwar assured the House that the government is prioritising the safety of the 29,112 Malaysians currently in the Middle East.
Most are located in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, he said.
Many have faced difficulties due to airspace closures and flight cancellations, while others live and work in the affected countries.
“Wisma Putra is closely monitoring the situation while staying in contact with our Malaysians there,” Anwar said.
