Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed disappointment with the backlash from certain Malaysians over the admission of injured Palestinians from Gaza for treatment.
Siti Kasim, a Malaysian lawyer and activist, is critical of the ruling. Siti questioned the government's humanitarian purpose to aid Palestinian conflict victims.
A perplexed Siti emphasized Malaysia's unresolved situation: not everyone has access to medical treatment, particularly those living in rural regions who still struggle to get to the nearest, available medical center.
"They do not have transportation, and the roads are inaccessible! We must prioritize the needs of our people! “You have no idea how much our people are suffering!”
While Siti is not opposed to the government's humanitarian objective, she believes the government should prioritize our people.
“Some folks don't even have access to schooling. This is why our government's priorities are so wrong! This is about being humane to your people first! The people in your backyard!”
Siti continued to attack the Prime Minister for failing to take care of Malaysians, claiming that his choice to assist the Palestinians was nothing more than a political ploy to get votes.
"Anwar should be the PM of Palestine," said Siti Kassim, as reported by World of Buzz.
Speaking at an event in Skudai, Johor, on August 17, Anwar said some people were critical of the government's decision to bring 41 injured Palestinians and their families to Malaysia for medical treatment.
"Some people started to criticize, saying I shouldn't be the prime minister of Malaysia, telling me to become the prime minister of Palestine if I wanted to help," he added.
According to Mothership, Malaysia has been a major supporter of the Palestinian cause, especially since Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war.
Anwar has been particularly vocal about his support for Palestine, showing up to a crowded stadium gathering in a keffiyeh to express condolences following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and then denouncing Meta when his sympathy post was deleted.
Meta calls Hamas a "dangerous group" and prohibits anything praising them but claims it "erroneously" erased the Malaysian Prime Minister's post.
Despite Malaysians' open sympathy for Palestinians and strong hatred toward Israel, which Anwar has echoed, Malaysia's mission of mercy has not gone unchallenged.
Anwar also chastised certain state servants for focusing on criticism rather than celebrating the government's successes.
"I hope they can broaden their minds because we are the first country in Asia to accept injured Palestinians for treatment. How is that possible? Because our Cabinet and Unity Government leaders decided to share responsibility for this."
Anwar has worked tirelessly to gain the support of Malaysia's civil servants, frequently with monetary incentives.
In May 2024, he announced a pay increase for civil servants of more than 13%, contingent on performance.
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