Deputy foreign minister Mohamad Alamin said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) should not be “more Hamas than Hamas”.

Wan Fayhsal had questioned the government’s decision to invite Trump to the Asean Summit, calling him a “war criminal” who had allowed “a genocide in Gaza”.

“There has never been an American president who stopped Israeli aggression. Trump is the one who let genocide happen. What benefit do we gain by letting him set foot in our country?” the Bersatu man said.

Mohamad then said that Malaysia must view the issue from a broader perspective. He said Trump was invited to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia’s capacity as Asean chair, in line with the bloc’s principles of neutrality and centrality.

He also said that the US remained Malaysia’s top foreign investor.

“Hamas itself has welcomed Trump’s 20-Point Plan. So why can’t we support it? Machang, let’s not try to be more Hamas than Hamas,” he said.

He said Trump’s plan, announced on Sept 29, called for an immediate stop to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian aid routes.

Mohamad said Malaysia would support any step that could end the bombings and help rebuild Gaza but acknowledged that the plan had “loopholes” that could still favour Israel.

He said the country would use Trump’s visit to voice its concern over Gaza and strengthen ties with Asean and the US.

Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the creation of a transitional administration under international oversight.

The plan also includes large-scale reconstruction and aid efforts but stops short of guaranteeing Palestinian statehood, drawing mixed reactions from world leaders.