Kagan was commenting on a crowd of protestors that gathered outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel earlier to “welcome” guests to the US’s 248th Independence Day Celebration.

Kagan said there had been friction in the past over Malaysians’ right to speak and protest freely.

“We cherish that right even when it’s directed against us,” he told a press conference at the hotel.

“We know the sacrifices so many people have made fighting communists, terrorists to give people the right to speak freely,” he added.

Earlier, Muda secretary-general Amir Hadi shared a 14-second video on X (formerly Twitter) of the protestors outside the hotel entrance waving the Palestinian flag and holding placards calling for a stop to the genocide in Gaza.

Participants of the rally included lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son, Mukhriz.

Earlier, AFP reported that the US announced on Sunday it had requested a UN Security Council vote on its draft resolution backing a plan for an “immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages” between Israel and Hamas.

The US, a staunch ally of Israel, has been widely criticised for having blocked several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

US president Joe Biden on May 31 launched a new push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, separate from the UN.

The proposal includes a first phase with an “immediate, full, and complete ceasefire,” release of hostages taken by Hamas, and exchange of Palestinian prisoners plus withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza.

It also includes the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip to all Palestinian civilians who need it.