Kuala lumpur: Malaysia continues to strengthen its role in supporting the Palestinian people, particularly in the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He welcomed the readiness of Japan and Palestine to co-chair, alongside Malaysia, the upcoming 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV) - a key regional cooperation platform that will be outlined through the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan in the near future.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated, "Our focus is clear, a comprehensive humanitarian response, early recovery, economic development and capacity building." He emphasized Malaysia's commitment to coordinating joint efforts under the Gaza reconstruction plan initiated by Egypt, which has received support from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Earlier, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, received a courtesy call from Palestinian Planning and International Cooperation Minister Dr. Estephan Salameh and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) representative Natalie Boucly at his office. Apart from the Palestinian issue, Anwar said the meeting also touched on the role of UNRWA in international missions.
Anwar condemned the Israeli regime's act of banning UNRWA, describing it as an open attack against a United Nations (UN) body. UNRWA was established in 1949 and currently supports nearly 5.9 million people in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, CEAPAD is a regional platform led by Japan since 2013, bringing together several East Asian countries to support Palestine's nation-building efforts by leveraging member countries' resources, expertise, and economic development experience. Current CEAPAD members include Japan, Palestine, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Anwar also noted Malaysia's commitment to strengthening ties with the European Union (EU), which is currently Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner, with total trade reaching US$47.93 billion in 2024. This was conveyed during Anwar's meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.
He welcomed EU investments in new technologies, energy, digital sectors, and climate-related initiatives, in addition to supporting expedited negotiations on the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA) and the Framework Agreement with the European Investment Bank. Discussions also included regional matters, such as issues concerning Ukraine, Palestine, and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) in Myanmar, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue, appointment of a special envoy, facilitation of humanitarian aid by ASEAN, and access for the special envoy to meet all stakeholders in Myanmar.