Anwar’s Trump card: why Malaysia wants US president at Asean summit

They add that the move aligns with the long-standing practice and principles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with Kuala Lumpur as chair taking a “low-risk” decision to maximise the member states’ trade aspirations with America and engage Trump on regional issues.

In a video message posted on social media last month, Mahathir said the US continued to supply Israel with funds, weapons and military help “to perpetuate the killings of Palestinians”. He added that the US president had “openly supported and enabled the crimes against humanity currently inflicted by Israel upon the Palestinian people”.

Nearly two years after Hamas’ attack on Israeli soil that killed 1,200 at a concert, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and many more displaced, triggering global condemnation and concern over the rising humanitarian toll.

Speaking at an event in Sabah on Saturday, Anwar said Malaysia would use the Asean summit to voice concerns over the plight of the Palestinians and the Gaza situation.