The planned visit of United States President Donald Trump to the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur next month has triggered a heated clash of opinions in Malaysia. While Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim have fiercely criticised Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim for extending the invitation, the majority of Malaysiakini readers appear unconvinced by their arguments - warning instead of the economic and diplomatic risks of shutting the door on Trump.
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In a video posted on social media, Dr Mahathir urged Anwar to revoke Trump’s invitation, arguing that the former US president bears responsibility for Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. He claimed that Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, enabled genocide not only through bombs and missiles but also by engineering famine. “Malaysia cannot remain silent. This is our moral responsibility,” Mahathir said, adding that even small nations must take a stand against such brutality.
Zaid Ibrahim went further in his criticism, branding Trump a “madman” and accusing Anwar of indulging his ego by wanting to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a narcissistic leader. He warned that hosting Trump would bring “shame” to ASEAN’s 300 million Muslims.
Yet in Malaysiakini’s comments section, the mood leans in the opposite direction. Many readers dismissed Mahathir and Zaid’s fiery rhetoric as unrealistic and short-sighted. Several pointed out that antagonising Trump could have severe consequences - not only for Malaysia but for ASEAN as a whole. “Offend Trump, and he will not hesitate to slap tariffs on our semiconductor and other exports,” one reader wrote, warning that thousands of Malaysian jobs depend on smooth trade relations with Washington.
Others argued that Anwar, as ASEAN Chair, must look beyond Gaza or Qatar when setting the summit’s agenda. Overemphasising the Palestine issue risks alienating other ASEAN members who prefer neutrality, and could also discomfort Trump by directly challenging US foreign policy. “The Prime Minister should emphasise world peace and stability in general, not single out conflicts in a way that divides the region,” another reader commented.
For Anwar, the challenge is clear: he must strike a careful balance between Malaysia’s moral voice and the harsh realities of global diplomacy. Trump’s visit, though controversial, also reflects the US lens on ASEAN as a critical region in the global order. To slam the door now would risk more than bruised ego: it could jeopardise Malaysia’s economic resilience and ASEAN’s unity.
This debate, at its core, is a test of priorities: whether Malaysia should take a purist moral stance at the expense of livelihoods, or pursue pragmatic diplomacy while still advocating peace. Anwar’s ability to walk this tightrope may well define his leadership both for Malaysia and on the international stage.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Malaysiakini , FocusMalaysia , YT/Mahathir
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