Police to beef up Premier Anwar’s security as Malaysia hardens stance on Palestine

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Malaysian is beefing up security around Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim amid the Southeast Asian nation’s hardened stance on Palestine.

After Anwar said on Tuesday that he had gotten death threats, the country’s police chief Razarudin Husain said the force “will not compromise” on Anwar’s security.

“The security of the prime minister is our top priority,” Husain said, adding that it will be tightened.

Addressing a pro-Palestine rally on Tuesday night, Anwar said he “received multiple threats from Western countries over his criticisms of the Israeli government following the start of the war in Gaza,” according to state-run Bernama News.

Malaysia has seen a massive outpouring of support for suffering Palestinians.

Anwar told Palestine supporters in the capital Kuala Lumpur: “Malaysia will remain independent and continue to defend the country’s freedom as well as advocate the freedom of Palestinian people.”

He stressed that he “would not be intimidated by threats/”

Razarudin said the threats “may be related to economic measures.”

Malaysians have long stood with the Palestinians, Anwar told the rally, adding: “And we will continue without fear.”

Amid continued Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, Anwar last week had separate phone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well as Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, and expressed Malaysia's “unwavering support for the Palestinian people.”

Malaysia condemns “aggression,” he said in Kuala Lumpur. “We talk about humanity, justice, human rights for the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. We respect them as they respect us.”

“The level of aggression has reached the level of insanity,” he said.

“Women and children are butchered, hospitals and schools have been bombed,” he said. “Where is the justice, humanity, and democratic rights that the West is talking about?”

Israel launched a relentless bombardment campaign on Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, putting the enclave’s residents under total siege and a blockade of food, fuel, and medical supplies. Aid supplies have since started to trickle in, but at levels far below the public need.

Nearly 7,200 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.​​​​​​​