The limits of Malaysia's support for Gaza are showing

Since a deadly war in Gaza unfolded that has now seen 63,000 killed, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been one of the most critical Muslim heads of government voicing support for the Palestinians, their right to self-determination and the ability to live their lives in freedom and dignity.

- Shannon Teoh

Most recently, his response to the ceasefire in January was to commit his government to building schools, hospitals and mosques in the strip, an effort he estimates will be worth "hundreds of millions".

Unlike most of his statements on Gaza, however, this was met with criticism, including from a long-serving former trade and investment minister who called on the government to channel such aid to meet Malaysian needs instead.

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, while acknowledging the premier's good intentions, said the "sad state" of rural schools in Malaysia, as well as the inadequacies of public healthcare and places of worship, should be prioritised instead.

Funds could be better spent there, compared with pledging to the premature idea of rebuilding Gaza, she argued, as she questioned whether such proposals were being floated simply to score "political brownie points".

MAKING GAZA GREAT AGAIN?

To be sure, the Anwar administration's stance on Gaza is not new. But while no Malaysian leader would waver from taking a pro-Palestinian stance, Datuk Seri Anwar has been more vociferous than his predecessors.

In the early days of Israel's major offensive in Gaza, Mr Anwar was simply reflecting strong public support to alleviate the plight of the Palestinians.

By and large, Malaysians backed his public statements. Some even beamed with pride when at a March 2024 press conference in pro-Israel Germany alongside then Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he accused the West of hypocrisy, holding up their support for Ukraine after being invaded by Russia as a mirror.

He even met Hamas leaders, including then chief Ismail Haniyeh in May 2024, and then accused Meta of being "instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime" when it took down his social media posts in August criticising the assassination of the Hamas leader.