Malaysia does not recognise the state of Israel and supports the Palestinian people, the country’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated, Al Jazeera reports.

Anwar made the comments during a news conference at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru on Friday, according to the Malaysian Reserve, where he rejected any suggestion his government had plans to change its diplomatic distance towards Israel.

In a follow-up interview with CNN, Anwar doubled down on his position saying that Malaysia had to maintain its position regarding Israel as “a matter of justice”.

“In the context of the international system, some say ‘de facto’ and some say ‘de jure’. Israel exists as a country in the context of membership in the United Nations (UN), but we still reject official recognition of the country,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Yemen offensive
Updated 04 Oct, 2026

Yemen offensive

The best option, therefore, is for Muslim and Arab states to help restore the Saudi-Houthi ceasefire.
Growth transition
04 Oct, 2026

Growth transition

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent call to move from stabilisation to growth, job creation and export ...
Protection at risk
04 Oct, 2026

Protection at risk

THE recent warning from UNHCR should alarm donor governments. Nearly 8.3m refugees and other forcibly displaced...
Talks, at last
Updated 03 Oct, 2026

Talks, at last

The government’s constant threats to suspend KP’s elected dispensation over a political protest have escalated hostilities considerably. In that context, both sides did well to start talking.
IWT’s future
Updated 03 Oct, 2026

IWT’s future

TOGETHER with the Kashmir dispute, India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has become the biggest...
Pained minds
03 Oct, 2026

Pained minds

IN Pakistan, mental healthcare is wedged between two extremes — a luxury or a stigma. Estimates cited by the...