SHAH ALAM: "If you don't want to thank me, at least don't criticise me," said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to his detractors.
Addressing the criticisms directed at him on his statement about Palestine during the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders' Week, Anwar explained that he made a challenging choice to speak out against the Israeli atrocities inflicted upon the people in the Gaza Strip.
He said during the summit, he sat directly opposite United States' President Joe Biden, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was seated to his right.
"I didn't have a choice, because I kept thinking about the mothers, the babies, houses that have been ruined and children becoming victims.
"We are a country of 32 million people, and it was not easy for just one person to speak up (about Palestine) in front of the US president.
"I could have taken the easy way, by saying things diplomatically, urging to find peace and to work together, but I chose to say the truth even though it is unpopular or difficult to hear," he said at the Tangan Emas Perdana Menteri and the Anugerah Tokoh Mahir Awards Ceremony 2023 here, today.
He added that it was his responsibility to do so on behalf of Malaysians, and he did so knowing that there would be discordant opinions on his actions.
"They (detractors) have described what I did as causing risk to the country and our economy, and said there were minority groups in Malaysia that were not being defended.
"I am frustrated by such views. Which minority group is being bombed? Which innocent children are being killed en masse? Which land is being stolen and which home is being destroyed?" he questioned.
At the informal meet and working lunch during the Apec Summit held in San Francisco last week, Anwar had called for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestine-Israel war.
He said the sufferings inflicted on the Palestinians and people in Gaza clearly demonstrated an "abandonment of moral responsibilities", and said the massive destruction and loss of innocent lives would only end up causing regional instability.
Meanwhile, Anwar reiterated that the war in Palestine was not just about Islam, adding that apart from mosques being destroyed, seven churches were also razed to the ground.
"It's not just about religion, but also humanity," he added.