Yazid Zul Kepli, a professor of international law at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), said Malaysia must strike a balance between its principles and national interests to continue supporting the Palestinian people without provoking tensions, particularly with the US.
He cautioned that the US, under the Donald Trump administration, wields significant influence over the global economy and remains an important trading partner for Malaysia.
“Overly strong statements or actions could trigger repercussions that may affect trade, investment, or economic cooperation between the two countries,” he told FMT.
Yazid recommended focusing on the broader Palestinian cause, without openly supporting organisations labeled as terrorist entities, by emphasising human rights issues, humanitarian suffering and fair resolutions.
He also suggested channeling aid through internationally recognised humanitarian organisations and agencies.
“Malaysia can play a crucial role in assisting Palestinians affected by conflict without jeopardising its ties with other nations,” he added.
On Wednesday, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned that Malaysia should exercise caution when dealing with the US, following Trump’s explosive meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House on Feb 28.
In a post on X, the ex-Langkawi MP said the order for Zelensky to leave the White House was a first in the history of diplomacy.
Previously, Trump had sought access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as repayment for US military aid in its war against Russia.
Azmi Hassan, a geostrategist at Akademi Nusantara, said Malaysia’s vocal stance on Palestine stems from a deep-seated distrust of Arab nations, which have their own agendas.
He noted that Malaysia’s position has drawn attention from non-Arab countries, such as Japan, which invited Malaysia to collaborate on Palestinian reconstruction efforts.
“We are taking a positive step, even though we may face pressure as a result,” he said.
On March 3, FMT reported former ambassador to the US Nazri Aziz as saying that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim might have been reprimanded by Trump if a phone call had been arranged between them.
Commenting on criticism against him for not setting up a phone call between the two leaders after Trump took office on Jan 20, Nazri said that “sometimes, it’s better not to take the call at all”.
Nazri also sought to allay fears about Putrajaya’s relations with Trump, saying the US president’s stance on trade, immigration and social issues was similar to that of Malaysia.
He called for Malaysia to aim for comprehensive relationships with multiple global players, including Russia, India and China, rather than striving to be “best friends” with just one country.