PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said he will join the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week in San Francisco, the United States (US), despite calls to not attend.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the decision to participate in the conference is to protect Malaysia’s interests from various angles of diplomatic, security and economic relations.
He insisted that he will not budge in defending justice and the struggle of the Palestinian people.
Aware the decision would not please all parties, Anwar hopes he will not be punished as being pro-Israeli for attending the conference, which all Asian member countries will attend at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.
“For me, the priority is to maintain diplomatic relations and peace even if we do not budge in defence of justice and support the struggle for the rights of the Palestinian people,” he said when speaking at a gathering with Finance Ministry staff today.
“As the Prime Minister, I want to look after the country’s interests. I want to look after its security, economy and prosperity,” he said, admitting there is pressure for him not to go for APEC 2023.
APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to capitalise on the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific, and this year, it will take place in San Francisco from November 11 to November 17.
All 21 APEC member economies account for nearly 40 per cent of the global population, nearly 50 per cent of global trade, and over 60 per cent of US goods exports.
APEC member economies comprise Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taipei, Thailand, US, and Vietnam.
Anwar said the priority of Malaysia for Palestine is peace and humanitarian aid to assist the affected Palestinians.
“Contact any big companies, find a way or add more funds to surpass RM100 million of the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) collection. We will distribute and ensure that the shipment goes through a reliable body,” he said.
The AAKRP fund, supervised by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, was established following the violent conflict and fighting in the Gaza Strip
Meanwhile, Anwar also asked all parties in this country not to politicise the Palestine-Israel issue.
“I see that sometimes the polemics of parties and extreme groups are quite extreme. It is okay, in this Gaza issue, let us work together, people are killed, small children die, think how to help together,” he said.
The latest fighting in Palestine involving Hamas, the authorities in Gaza, and the Israeli regime since October 7, has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.
— Bernama
