Kuala Lumpur: In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a phone call with Masoud earlier today, Anwar stated that Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. Anwar emphasized that Malaysia's foreign policy is built on national interests and firm convictions, condemning the hypocrisy of countries that claim to uphold human rights yet remain silent in the face of oppression.
Anwar conveyed that Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the upcoming celebration on Saturday. He prayed that hajj pilgrims from both nations currently in Makkah would be granted a blessed hajj and contribute to the development of the 'Ummah' upon returning to their respective countries.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to Masoud for facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He also appreciated recent visits by Malaysian ministers to Tehran, which are part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas including education, technology, food security, trade, investment, and the oil and gas sector. Anwar welcomed the resumption of Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, noting that it will open more opportunities for economic ties and people-to-people connections.
In a separate post, Anwar mentioned a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussing the suffering of the Palestinian people. He expressed support for Erdogan's stance to utilize all platforms to defend Palestinian rights and dignity. Anwar described Erdogan's recent official visit to Malaysia as the most successful in the nation's diplomatic history, highlighting substantive discussions that addressed shared interests and further strengthened bilateral ties.
Anwar emphasized Malaysia's commitment to working closely with Turkiye to form a strategic partnership that amplifies the voice of the ummah globally. In the spirit of Aidiladha, Malaysia will continue to stand with Turkiye in fostering a more peaceful, just, and humane world. He also received Aidiladha greetings from Erdogan.