CAIRO: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi agree that Western countries should exert pressure on the Israeli regime to cease its attacks on Gaza.
Both leaders concurred that public facilities in Gaza, such as schools and hospitals, should not be bombed and destroyed by the Israeli regime, he said.
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"The sufferings of the people of Gaza are at a critical level. And that was what we agreed upon during the discussion (with El-Sisi),” he told Malaysian media at a press conference at the end of his two-day working visit to Egypt on Monday (Oct 23).
Anwar said the Egyptian government was currently undertaking major efforts to channel humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and Malaysia will cooperate and support its actions.
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The Prime Minister said Malaysia will also continue to try to contact Western and Eastern countries to urge them to act so that peace prevails and humanitarian aid can be delivered to the troubled region.
"The clear objective is to defend the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian state. If this is not achieved, there will be no solution, no lasting peace.
"This is the position shared with our allies, including Egypt, and yesterday in Turkiye, and before that in Riyadh; this is our collective view,” he said.
Anwar also expressed his gratitude to President El-Sisi for accommodating their meeting, despite the short notice given.
Meanwhile, Anwar said while their meeting's primary focus was on the Gaza issue, they also discussed various matters, including regional issues and the future of Arab and Islamic countries.
Bilateral trade cooperation and investment between both nations were also discussed, he added.
"I have asked the Foreign Minister, along with the committee (to be formed later), to identify areas of cooperation that can be enhanced,” he said.
Anwar also announced that President El-Sisi has agreed to make an official visit to Malaysia early next year.
He said the visit was significant as it has been decades since an Egyptian president visited Malaysia. - Bernama
