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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his country’s readiness to join a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Gaza, alongside other nations including members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).According to Anadolu, Anwar made the commitment during the 47th ASEAN Summit in a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.“Malaysia also reiterated its firm stance in support of the Palestinian struggle, and welcomed the UN’s consistent position as well as the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirmed that the Israeli regime’s blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza constitutes a violation of international law,” Anwar said in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, October 26, 2025.During the same meeting, Anwar and Guterres also discussed Malaysia’s role in facilitating dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia, as well as its efforts to promote inclusive discussions on the Myanmar crisis.Gaza Issue at the ASEAN SummitKhoo Ying Hooi, a lecturer in International and Strategic Studies at the University of Malaya, told CNA that Gaza was widely expected to emerge as a key topic at this year’s ASEAN Summit.She noted that the presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit has drawn both public attention and political demonstrations in Malaysia, which she said could be an opportunity for ASEAN and Malaysia to assert their diplomatic stance.Khoo said that if ASEAN manages to uphold a unified and principled stance on Gaza while balancing its relationship with the United States, it would mark a shift from a passive observer to a moral actor — a regional community capable of responding to global crises with coherence and moral clarity.“But if the issue is sidestepped for the sake of diplomacy, it would underscore the lingering gap between ASEAN’s rhetoric and its willingness to act collectively when it matters most,” she said.Malaysia’s Strategic Role as HostAs the host of the ASEAN Summit from Sunday to Tuesday, Malaysia occupies a strategic diplomatic position, receiving high-level delegates from major powers and international institutions, including António Guterres.The summit gathers Southeast Asian leaders and East Asia Summit participants, as well as global figures from the United States, China, India, Russia, Japan, and representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Al Jazeera.Editor’s Choice: ASEAN Summit 2025 in Malaysia: What to Expect in This SummitClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
