US didn't respect PM's freedom of speech on Gaza - Nazri
Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Feb 26, 2025 8:01 AM
Updated: 2:12 PM
Summary
- Former Malaysian envoy to the United States Nazri Abdul Aziz says Washington had disrespected Malaysia’s stand on the Gaza issue.
- Nazri has defended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s stance on various occasions.
- However, he reiterates Malaysia’s bilateral ties with the US remained strong during his two-year tenure.
INTERVIEW | Despite claiming to be a defender of free speech, former Malaysian ambassador to the United States Nazri Abdul Aziz said Washington had disrespected Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s vocal stand on the Palestinian issue.
In a recent interview, Nazri elaborated on five separate occasions when he was summoned - under the diplomatic process known as “demarche” - to explain Anwar’s views and actions on the domestic and international front, expressing Malaysia’s anti-Israel stand and support for Palestinians under siege in Gaza.
Nazri, who recently concluded his two-year tenure as a politically appointed envoy, said the first call from the US State Department was prompted by Hamas’ attack against Israel on Oct 7, 2023 - about seven months after he assumed the role.
“I didn’t expect anything until our PMX (Anwar) made a statement that we support Hamas on this occasion.
“Of course, the US unilaterally announced that all others already sanctioned Hamas as a terrorist organisation,” he added.
Nazri said that was the beginning of some difficulties he had with the US State Department.
“They called me and schooled me for 20 to 30 minutes, mentioning their displeasure at the support of our prime minister for Hamas,” he claimed.
Untrained diplomat
The former six-term Padang Rengas MP admitted that he was not trained as a diplomat, and instead as a politician, he listened but also insisted on replying to the allegations levelled against Anwar and Malaysia.
In a recent interview, Nazri elaborated on five separate occasions when he was summoned - under the diplomatic process known as “demarche” - to explain Anwar’s views and actions on the domestic and international front, expressing Malaysia’s anti-Israel stand and support for Palestinians under siege in Gaza.
Nazri, who recently concluded his two-year tenure as a politically appointed envoy, said the first call from the US State Department was prompted by Hamas’ attack against Israel on Oct 7, 2023 - about seven months after he assumed the role.
“I didn’t expect anything until our PMX (Anwar) made a statement that we support Hamas on this occasion.
“Of course, the US unilaterally announced that all others already sanctioned Hamas as a terrorist organisation,” he added.
Nazri said that was the beginning of some difficulties he had with the US State Department.
“They called me and schooled me for 20 to 30 minutes, mentioning their displeasure at the support of our prime minister for Hamas,” he claimed.
Untrained diplomat
The former six-term Padang Rengas MP admitted that he was not trained as a diplomat, and instead as a politician, he listened but also insisted on replying to the allegations levelled against Anwar and Malaysia.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Among others, Nazri said he had during the first phone call reiterated that Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, but his priority as an ambassador was also to maintain good relations with the US.
“On the prime minister’s statement, I told them that Malaysia is a sovereign and independent nation (so) we don’t need to listen to any other country’s displeasure about our stand.
“And I did mention, I remember, that I told them that even, you know, US’ stand on support for Israel’s right to exist, we Malaysians also do not like that,” he said.
Nazri said he argued Putrajaya had never summoned the US ambassador to Malaysia to state objection over the administration’s support for Israel.
“This is free speech, free expression as taught to us by the American democracy. Why can’t we have our own stand?” he stressed.
The former law minister added he was requested to convey Washington’s unhappiness to Putrajaya, but again, insisted that any such message could be conveyed through the US ambassador to Malaysia.
‘Right to free speech’
Nazri revealed that the second and third calls followed Anwar’s statement supporting Iran’s right to retaliate against Israel’s attack on its embassy, as well as his meeting with Hamas leaders in Qatar last year.
“The fourth time was when the PM made a statement in Australia about xenophobia, again, they called me and asked why he (Anwar) mentioned xenophobia.
“I told them the prime minister did not mention, I think, the US as having xenophobia. He only said generally.
“And I again reiterated that Malaysia is a sovereign independent nation. It is free speech and, of course, we have every right to say anything we want,” he added.
Among others, Nazri said he had during the first phone call reiterated that Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, but his priority as an ambassador was also to maintain good relations with the US.
“On the prime minister’s statement, I told them that Malaysia is a sovereign and independent nation (so) we don’t need to listen to any other country’s displeasure about our stand.
“And I did mention, I remember, that I told them that even, you know, US’ stand on support for Israel’s right to exist, we Malaysians also do not like that,” he said.
Nazri said he argued Putrajaya had never summoned the US ambassador to Malaysia to state objection over the administration’s support for Israel.
“This is free speech, free expression as taught to us by the American democracy. Why can’t we have our own stand?” he stressed.
The former law minister added he was requested to convey Washington’s unhappiness to Putrajaya, but again, insisted that any such message could be conveyed through the US ambassador to Malaysia.
‘Right to free speech’
Nazri revealed that the second and third calls followed Anwar’s statement supporting Iran’s right to retaliate against Israel’s attack on its embassy, as well as his meeting with Hamas leaders in Qatar last year.
“The fourth time was when the PM made a statement in Australia about xenophobia, again, they called me and asked why he (Anwar) mentioned xenophobia.
“I told them the prime minister did not mention, I think, the US as having xenophobia. He only said generally.
“And I again reiterated that Malaysia is a sovereign independent nation. It is free speech and, of course, we have every right to say anything we want,” he added.
US President Donald Trump
The fifth incident followed Anwar’s two-day working visit to attend the 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia in September last year, when Nazri said he was told to stand by for an expected call with the US Congress, which did not happen.
“I waited. But they never called me. And I got to know that they spoke to Wisma Putra (instead).
“Must be that they got fed up with me, I suppose. Probably thinking that Wisma Putra and the Malaysian ambassador to the US are two different entities,” he quipped.
The previous US administration under former president Joe Biden had aligned with Ukraine in the war against Russia, but US President Donald Trump has reportedly highlighted a change of stance through two votes at the United Nations.
The fifth incident followed Anwar’s two-day working visit to attend the 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia in September last year, when Nazri said he was told to stand by for an expected call with the US Congress, which did not happen.
“I waited. But they never called me. And I got to know that they spoke to Wisma Putra (instead).
“Must be that they got fed up with me, I suppose. Probably thinking that Wisma Putra and the Malaysian ambassador to the US are two different entities,” he quipped.
The previous US administration under former president Joe Biden had aligned with Ukraine in the war against Russia, but US President Donald Trump has reportedly highlighted a change of stance through two votes at the United Nations.
An under-siege Gaza
Overall, Nazri said aside from the Palestinian issue, Malaysia’s bilateral ties with America remained strong during his two-year tenure, as reflected by growing trade numbers.
Looking forward, Nazri noted that both Biden’s and Trump’s administrations remain firmly pro-Israel - a challenge which must be carefully addressed by his successor in discussions with Wisma Putra.
Yesterday, Bernama quoted Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan as saying that the new Malaysian ambassador to the US will be a trained diplomat with extensive experience in negotiations and international relations.
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Overall, Nazri said aside from the Palestinian issue, Malaysia’s bilateral ties with America remained strong during his two-year tenure, as reflected by growing trade numbers.
Looking forward, Nazri noted that both Biden’s and Trump’s administrations remain firmly pro-Israel - a challenge which must be carefully addressed by his successor in discussions with Wisma Putra.
Yesterday, Bernama quoted Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan as saying that the new Malaysian ambassador to the US will be a trained diplomat with extensive experience in negotiations and international relations.
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Washington didn't actually do anything of consequence when Malaysia openly opposed US policy...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand Malaysia kuai kuai quiet as a mouse on China's encroachment with their warships intefering with Malaysia's EEZ ... Anwar Ibrahim balls KECUT because he understood Big Bully China's retribution would be very ugly.