Anwar, Gaza and political posturing
The prime minister's approach suggests that support for Palestine is driven by domestic electorate rather than a commitment to humanitarianism.
As the current ceasefire in Gaza holds, albeit precariously, there is an urgent need to consider how the international community can assist in rebuilding Gaza.
However, peace is not merely the absence of war; it must be underpinned by a viable political solution, such as the long-discussed two-state framework that envisions Israel and Palestine coexisting.
Many nations have stepped forward to pledge financial aid for Gaza’s reconstruction, with estimates suggesting that at least US$1 trillion will be required.
Japan has already made commitments to assist financially.
Malaysia, too, has positioned itself as a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause.
However, its motivations appear to be less about universal humanitarianism and more about domestic political considerations.
While Malaysia has no significant role in brokering the ceasefire — efforts led primarily by the US, Egypt, and Qatar — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has sought to portray Malaysia as an influential player in the crisis.
His focus on Gaza, however, stands in stark contrast to his silence on other humanitarian crises, such as China’s treatment of the Uighur Muslims.
Anwar’s approach suggests that Malaysia’s support for Palestine is driven by its appeal to the domestic Malay-Muslim electorate, rather than a broader commitment to global humanitarianism.
This selective advocacy raises questions about whether humanitarian aid is being used as a political tool rather than an ethical obligation.
Malaysia certainly should contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction, but its assistance must be commensurate with its financial capacity.
Unlike Japan or other developed nations, Malaysia has limited resources, and any aid to Gaza should not come at the expense of addressing pressing domestic issues such as poverty, housing shortages, and inadequate healthcare for Malaysians of all backgrounds.
Furthermore, if Malaysia truly wishes to champion humanitarian causes, its support should extend beyond Muslim-related issues to include crises affecting non-Muslim communities worldwide.
Ultimately, the Palestinian people deserve all the help they can get from the international community, including Malaysia.
However, such support should be guided by genuine humanitarian concern, not political maneuvering.
More importantly, since the financial burden will be shared by both Muslim and non-Muslim taxpayers in the country, it should ensure that domestic needs are not neglected in pursuit of international prestige.
P Ramasamy is the former deputy chief minister of Penang and chairman of Urimai.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.
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