Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warns selective enforcement of international law erodes global confidence and condemns recent attacks on Iran.
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that international law must be applied consistently to all nations to retain its credibility. He warned that selective enforcement would erode confidence in the global system.
“If international law is to retain credibility, it must apply equally to all. Principles lose their authority when they are invoked selectively,” he said. Anwar stated these inconsistencies undermine confidence in the very foundations of the international system.
He made these remarks in his opening address at the Forum Ilmuwan Malaysia MADANI. The forum was titled ‘Strategies for Malaysia and ASEAN in an Era of Global Instability’.
Anwar also condemned the recent attacks on Iran. He described them as aggression driven by Israel’s hegemonic ambitions in West Asia with the support of the United States.
“We meet today in the midst of a war foisted on a sovereign state of Iran and its people,” he said. The Prime Minister said the conflict had resulted in targeted killings of leaders and attacks causing civilian casualties.
He highlighted the human cost, noting targeted killings are executed with precision while missile attacks massacre schoolchildren. Anwar said the escalation has already triggered massive disruptions in global energy markets.
History reminds us that instability in this region rarely remains confined within its borders. The Finance Minister added that the government has convened an emergency meeting of the Economic Advisory Council.
This meeting will deliberate on the potential impact of the conflict on Malaysia and the world. Anwar said Malaysia has taken a principled stance on the issue, in line with the bipartisan position of Parliament.
The country has consistently condemned Israeli aggression and the role of the US. He also called for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement across the region.
Anwar said wars not only result in the loss of lives but also carry far-reaching economic consequences. He explained that war disrupts production, damages infrastructure, and diverts national resources.
These pressures translate into higher energy prices, rising inflation, and greater fiscal restraint. Ultimately, this leads to hardship and misery for the majority of people, he concluded.