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YOURSAY | 'Diplomacy must be based on reality and pragmatism.'PN, allies: Trump's grand welcome 'rubs salt into still-bleeding Gazans' wounds'GSVL: The welcome given to US President Donald Trump was in accordance with diplomatic protocol and courtesies.The president was on an official visit to attend the Asean Summit.As the host, is Malaysia expected to be disrespectful to the leader of the most powerful country on the planet?The Palestinian issue has been around since 1948; it even predates our independence and the creation of Asean.So why are PAS and Urimai having a big issue about it only now?Is it because of jealousy that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim got the US president to attend an Asean summit after nearly a decade of absence?When PAS was in the Perikatan Nasional government, why didn't it raise its Palestinian concerns with the US government or downgrade relations with the US?The hypocrisy of people like PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy is astounding.Do both of you have a better plan to solve the Gaza conflict?Even the Arab countries received Trump with great ceremony and pomp during his recent visits to the UAE and Egypt, despite the war in Gaza.Anwar did raise the Palestinian issue with Trump during their bilateral talks.Malaysia has also endorsed the Trump 20-point plan for Gaza. What more do you expect Anwar to do?Malaysia does not have the military and economic might to resolve the Palestinian conflict on its own.We can also ill afford to become enemies of the US and antagonise their president.Our economy, prosperity and security are dependent on having cordial relations with the US, even if we disagree with their overwhelming support for Israel.Many Western countries, including the European Union, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and South Korea, support Israel.Are we expected to pick a fight with all of them just because we support the Palestinian people?China and Russia also trade extensively with Israel, including buying and selling arms. Do we criticise them as well?Diplomacy must be based on reality and pragmatism. False bravado and hubris are not going to achieve anything.While Anwar has his faults, the hosting of Trump and his conduct of the Asean summit has by a wide margin been a diplomatic triumph for Malaysia.PAS can either like it or lump it. Either way, nobody cares about what PAS and the mosquito party Urimai have to say.Robbie98: The righteous indignation of Takiyuddin and Ramasamy is amusing.Trump was invited to the Asean Summit. We also want him to sign a trade pact which does not penalise us.We are an economic mini mouse compared to the US.This is not a meeting to discuss Palestine affairs. That was done in Egypt, and we were not invited, an indication of what the Arab world and the rest think of us.When Trump stepped onto the carpet, there was music to which he danced, if you call it that.Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad can probably do better despite being 100 years old.I hope PAS and Urimai can look at the problems at home with the same fervour, and then justice and equality for all will follow here.Knucklehead: To those hurling shallow criticisms over diplomatic protocol - stop playing politics with slogans.Your outrage is performative. You speak of justice, yet ignore the reality of global diplomacy.Malaysia’s engagement with world leaders isn’t a betrayal of principle - it’s a necessity for economic resilience, strategic relevance, and national progress.You want moral posturing without negotiation. You expect prosperity to fall from the sky while scorning the very relationships that sustain it.That’s not leadership - it’s fantasy. If your only contribution is to exploit tragedy for political mileage, perhaps it’s time to retreat from public discourse.Go live in a cave, away from the complexities of statecraft.The nation deserves better than gutter politics dressed up as virtue.FitnessPro: Does Takiyuddin really know what he is talking about?Have they put sufficient thought into what they are disseminating to the media?Are the Gazans holding anger against Trump? If they are not, then what does this got to do with the busybody, judgmental PAS?And I thought Islam was a religion of peace? Why is PAS trying to create tension and run contrary to what peace is all about?What is peace, PAS? I hate it each time PAS talks nonsense.They are so self-righteous that they really do not put in proper thought before they speak.What has PAS contributed to nation-building? What has PAS contributed to Malaysia as a nation thus far?What has PAS contributed to Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, and Terengganu in the past many decades?List them down, please, to see if you really walk the talk.Bobbyo: The poor Palestinians are still being abused and used by our 7,000 miles-away politicians.Not a day passes by that hypocrites use the plight of the Palestinians to score brownie points.Seriously, if they are so concerned, why are they here? Sitting in their luxury and comfort zones.Efforts are being made to stop the conflict by those who are involved.Why are our Malaysian politicians and people jumping due to this conflict? They are not involved, nor are they in the danger zone.So stop being hypocritical, as over 30 million Malaysian citizens' futures are at stake.Come up with ideas of how you will help to make their life better. How can you improve to expand the economy?How can you help in making Malaysians champions in areas that will help to build up the nation?Why keep harping on an issue which you do not have control over or even a say in?Drkam: We respect the office of the US presidency, of course, but I’m genuinely impressed with how things went with Trump.He looked cheerful from the moment he arrived until he left for Japan.Anwar really showed his strength as a true diplomat - the kind who knows how to bring people together.The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
