Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered all Ministers and Deputy Ministers to put their overseas trips on hold.
According to BERNAMA, the move is to make sure full attention goes into preparing for Budget 2026 and the 47th ASEAN Summit happening next month.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar flew to Qatar just days after the announcement
Communications Minister and Government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said exceptions will only be allowed for pre-planned meetings or cases given special approval by the Cabinet.
However, just days after the announcement, Anwar himself had flown to Doha, Qatar, to attend the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled for Monday in the Qatari capital.
At the invitation of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Anwar is set to join the extraordinary summit following the latest Israeli attacks on the country.
“Malaysia’s commitment to defend the Palestinian cause”
Wisma Putra said in a statement that the Prime Minister’s participation highlights Malaysia’s strong support and reaffirms the country’s firm stance on the urgent need to stop Israel’s blatant violations of international law.
“Anwar is set to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the extraordinary summit, where he will reaffirm the country’s firm stance on the urgent need to stop Israel’s blatant violations of international law, including the United Nations (UN) Charter and state sovereignty, which threaten both regional and global peace.”
Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar (left)
The summit is also expected to adopt a final communiqué outlining collective actions and positions on the issue.
“The Prime Minister’s participation is also a show of solidarity with Qatar, while reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and to condemn the brutality and violence carried out by Israel,” the statement read.
Anwar is expected to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the summit at 6 PM local time (11 PM in Malaysia) today (15 September).
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!
