Anwar’s display of servility to Trump

Welcoming world leaders to the country is one thing, but going overboard is quite another.

Receiving guests should be based on respect and dignity, which are prerequisites for maintaining good diplomatic relations.

Regrettably, the reception given to US President Donald Trump bordered on obsequiousness and servility.

There was no need to invite Trump in the first place. The Asean Summit could have proceeded smoothly without his presence and certainly without the excessive deference shown by the Asean chairman, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Even before Trump’s visit, there was public opposition due to the US stance on the Palestinian issue. The nebulous peace Trump once promised has yet to materialise, given Israel’s continued arrogance and intransigence.

Yet, Anwar proceeded with the invitation, seemingly to showcase his personal rapport with Trump rather than to advance regional or moral imperatives.

Upon his arrival, Trump performed a dance in front of the crowd, joined by Anwar, who appeared all too eager to please.

Anwar also quipped about having gone to jail, likening it to Trump’s own legal troubles. Why he chose to invoke his imprisonment remains baffling, given that his incarceration was hardly comparable to the moral struggles endured by freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela.

Anwar even boasted of travelling in Trump’s bulletproof vehicle in a breach of diplomatic protocol. Such antics serve no national purpose. They merely underscore a troubling tendency towards personal glorification and political theatrics.

Anwar seems to forget that he is the prime minister of Malaysia, not a celebrity seeking validation.

His excessive deference to Trump reflects a misguided sense of diplomacy, one that Malaysia does not need, especially when the plight of Palestinians continues unabated.

On the Palestinian issue, Trump cannot both pinch the baby and rock it to sleep. He cannot claim to seek peace while arming Israel to decimate Palestinians. At least the opposition had the decency to voice its objection to Trump’s visit, recognising that no genuine advocate for Palestinian nationhood should pander to those complicit in their suffering.

The manner in which Trump was received clearly indicates that Anwar cares little about the future of the Palestinians. No self-respecting leader would seek cordial ties with Trump without first prioritising the Palestinian quest for justice and statehood.

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.