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Malaysian PM shores up support at home with fiery anti-Israel views
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/08/asia-pacific/politics/anwar-support-malaysia-anti-israel/
As a student leader in Malaysia in the late 1960s, Anwar Ibrahim championed the cause of the Palestinians. Now as prime minister, his moves to stoke anti-Israel sentiment are endearing him to a voting block pivotal to the survival of his government.
After scraping through with a majority following last year’s hung parliament, Anwar has become Asia’s most outspoken leader in railing against Israel and its backers in the U.S. and Europe. He called the military action in Gaza the "height of barbarism” at a rally last month, and on Tuesday he told parliament that Malaysia will continue to back Hamas despite the threat of U.S. sanctions.
"Palestine is colonized through apartheid, ethnic cleansing and now genocide,” Anwar told lawmakers. "Whatever happened is the legitimate right and struggle of the Palestinian people.”
"All parties and members of the public should show solidarity in the issue of Palestine, rather than using it for politics,” he added.
Anwar sees his fiery stance against Israel as helping Malaysia both on the world stage and politically at home, according to a Foreign Ministry official familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. His multiracial coalition has increasingly been challenged by a pro-Islamic opposition appealing to the nation’s Malay majority.
The comments are contributing to growing anger in Malaysia, where citizens have held street protests over the Israel-Hamas war and boycotted fast-food establishments seen to have ties to Israel. The government is concerned about ensuring there are no attacks on restaurants or elsewhere, according to a Home Ministry official who asked not to be named.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry and Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment.
"Anwar has basically used the Palestine issue to try to shore up his Islamist credentials,” said Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Malaysia, who compared him to his arch-rival and former premier Mahathir Mohamad. "It’s interesting to see how many pages he’s taking from Mahathir’s playbook in his first year in office, one of which is making this issue is about him fighting for Palestine.”
Last year, Anwar rose to power promising to temper religious and racial tensions. But since then he’s taken on more pro-Islamic views to appeal to ethnic Malays who are Muslim by law, expanding the role of the federal agency overseeing Islamic affairs and briefly supporting restrictions on the use of the word "Allah” by non-Muslims.
An opinion survey by pollster Ilham Center across six Malay states showed Anwar had an approval rating of just 24% among ethnic Malays in July, while state elections the following month saw the opposition Perikatan Nasional walk away with a landslide win in three Malay-majority states. Its chairman and former premier, Muhyiddin Yassin, said the result was a sign that the people wanted change.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) pose for a photograph during Kishida's official visit to Malaysia on Sunday.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) pose for a photograph during Kishida's official visit to Malaysia on Sunday. | Pool via REUTERS
The divide underscores a delicate balancing act for Anwar, a two-time political prisoner and self-styled reformist who came to power on the pledge of leading an inclusive government.
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