KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition member of parliament Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has voiced support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's effort to submit a motion to expel Israel from the United Nations over its repeated violations of international law amid the Gaza conflict.
Ahmad Fadhli (PN-Pasir Mas) in his speech during the Supply Bill 2025 debate in the Dewan Rakyat said this is a necessary step for Anwar to more firmly assert his stance towards Israel's right to exist, following his remarks in a recent CNN interview, which sparked controversy.
"We support the government's effort, especially the Prime Minister's motion today, to push for the removal of the illegal state of Israel from the United Nations.
"This is a very bold action. I think, as a relatively small and modest nation, for us to take such a stance and express it to the world is something to be proud of," he said.
He however said Anwar's statement that Israel has the right to exist and defend itself in an interview with CNN is misleading.
"However, as mentioned, regarding the statement made by the prime minister during an interview with CNN, which various news portals, including MalaysiaNow have reported, we saw how Tambun (Anwar) answered a question posed during that interview, which CNN hosted.
"The question was, 'Does Israel have a right to exist and defend itself?' The Prime Minister answered, 'Yes.'
"With just these words, I feel this is very misleading.
"It may have been a result of the provocation by the journalist in the environment at that time.
"But in today's context, Israel has absolutely no right to exist in this world. It doesn't have any right to exist—totally, absolutely," he said.
He said this fact is something that Malaysia must assert firmly, and Anwar should clarify his statement with a stronger stance.
"In the current climate, with the oppression and the numerous crimes committed by this state, we hope the prime pinister will clarify his statement with a stronger stance, indicating that what was expressed in that interview does not align with the position we should take.
"We know and understand that our stance cannot be viewed as too harsh as it depends on many factors."
By submitting a motion to remove Israel from the UN, it should be just as straightforward to declare that Israel no longer has the right to exist in today's world, as this state was founded on genocide, oppression, and the blood of innocent Palestinians without any justifiable reason or basis, he said.
On Nov 11, Anwar Ibrahim called on world leaders at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit to unite in suspending or expelling Israel from the United Nations.
In his national statement at the summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anwar called for a strong international response to what he described as Israel's "barbaric" actions against the Palestinians.
MalaysiaNow reported yesterday, in an interview with CNN, that Anwar recognised Israel's right to exist and to "defend itself", a position likely to raise questions.
He also criticised the Western media for ignoring decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories by spreading a one-sided narrative since the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas last year.
Anwar was asked if he accepted Israel's right to exist and its right to defend itself, and he answered in the affirmative to both questions.