Speaking at a “Solidarity with Gaza” event tonight, Anwar said diplomacy, even with those who are deemed to be adversaries, is sometimes necessary for the greater good.
“When Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted (to secure) independence (for Malaya), he brought a delegation to London to meet our colonisers, the ones who oppressed us and Islam.
“But diplomacy was important, because our goal was independence,” he told a crowd of more than 10,000 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Anwar said his call for dialogue with Trump was guided by a similar principle: the pursuit of peace.
He said he and the other Asean member states yearned for peace in Gaza, and for Palestinians to no longer suffer.
“If this means that we invite Trump, what’s wrong with negotiating? I’m not surrendering, I’m negotiating,” he said.
Anwar said he was not bothered by critics who mocked him for extending the invitation to Trump, stressing that political maturity and wisdom were needed when handling international issues.
“People insult me because I want to invite Donald Trump on behalf of Asean. They say I’m the most useless prime minister.
“But if you read history, you will find that Prophet Muhammad himself had negotiated with those who had mocked and rejected him.”
On Sept 27, Anwar defended the decision to invite Trump to attend the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month, saying Malaysia will use diplomatic channels to continue voicing concerns over Palestine, including the atrocities in Gaza.
He said Malaysia “must be strategic in negotiations, maintaining a firm stance in defending truth and justice while pursuing diplomacy with wisdom”.
He had said this in response to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who urged the government to withdraw the invitation to Trump over Washington’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Mahathir had said the US continued to provide Israel with funds, weapons and military assistance “to perpetuate the killing of Palestinians”.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had also said the justification for inviting Trump was weak and unreasonable, describing him as a “great devil”.
Trump confirmed his attendance at the Asean Summit, scheduled for Oct 26 to 28, during a phone call with Anwar.