Kuala Lumpur, November 1, 2024 – The Europe Today: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed receiving an invitation from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attend a special Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Riyadh. The invitation, extended on Thursday, comes as the OIC aims to address pressing humanitarian and international issues, particularly those impacting the Muslim world.
Anwar noted that while he intends to consider the invitation seriously, he expressed the need for stronger international responses to ongoing injustices. Speaking at the “Temu Anwar” programme held at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), the Prime Minister questioned the global community’s approach to justice, especially in the context of humanitarian crises affecting Palestinians in Gaza. He urged for stronger collective pressure to address oppression in Gaza, emphasizing Malaysia’s commitment to advocating for justice and humanitarian values.
The Prime Minister underscored his commitment to maintaining an independent foreign policy. “In Vientiane, I discussed investment and issues in Gaza and Lebanon with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. They advised against certain alliances, but Malaysia is an independent, sovereign nation. Our policies will be driven by our national interest and values,” Anwar stated.
The event was attended by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, and UPNM vice-chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Mardzuki Muhammad.
