KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry has received three démarche notes from the United States Embassy for Malaysia's reluctance to consider Hamas as a terrorist group.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the démarche notes were received on Oct 13 and 30. Another one was sent to Malaysia's ambassador to the United States in Washington.
A demarche is a formal diplomatic representation of one government's official position, views, or wishes on a subject to an appropriate official in another government or international organisation. Demarches generally seek to persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government.
"Due to our reluctance to oppose Hamas and consider them as terrorists, I received information through the Foreign Ministry that we have received two démarche notes from the US Embassy, while another one to our ambassador.
"They have asked us not to continue with our stance, especially with our unwillingness to label Hamas as a terrorist (group).
"However, I have already answered this during the recent solidarity rally (held in Axiata Arena), where I emphasised that Malaysia maintains its independent position based on humanitarian considerations and views the invasion as unlawful and against international norms.
"This is not new and it has been ongoing for decades since 1948," he said during the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMTQ) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar was responding to a question from Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) who asked about the form of threats that Malaysia received from Western Countries supporting Israel following Malaysia's stance on Palestine.
He also asked about the developments following the government's work visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt which also touched about the Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.
Anwar revealed that the Malaysian Ambassador in Washington Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was summoned to the United States Department of State regarding Malaysia's stance concerning Israel, especially the violence in Gaza.
"However, our ambassador firmly expressed our position, as we are unwilling to condone Hamas' actions and consider Hamas to be terrorists."
Later, Anwar also called on Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, to not be divided by the Palestine-Israel conflict.
"I urged everyone to look at the issues from the historical and humanity perspective.
"We have experienced gaining independence from (British) colonisation.
"Together, we rejected colonialism. Why are we not the same when it comes to the Israeli occupation of Palestine?
"Some might consider us being too harsh and contradictory with the exceptionality attitude.
"Yes, we support the principle of exceptionality. However, not when it comes to injustice and the deaths of children.
"Let's not be divided over this issue. Yes, this issue is close to the Muslims, but at the same time it is also about humanity."
Anwar said countries such as Ireland, Russia, China and Brazil also stand together for the principle of humanity.