Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim calls out Israel ‘double standard’

Anwar Ibrahim has urged Anthony Albanese to restore funding to the UNRWA, saying the West was engaging in ‘selective application’ of international law.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shakes hands with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. Picture: Getty Images

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Anthony Albanese to restore funding to the UN relief agency in Gaza, claiming the West was engaging in “selective application” of international law through support of Israel.

At the Australian National University to deliver the Gareth Evans Oration on Thursday, before a packed audience including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her predecessor, Julie Bishop, Dr Anwar said the war had revealed the “self-serving nature of the much-valued, much-vaulted rules-based order”.

“Why for example has the West been so vociferous, vehement and unequivocal in the condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while remaining utterly silent on the relentless bloodletting inflicted on women and children in Gaza?” he said.

“There are exceptions, but they are few and far between. The fact is much of the Western world has given the Israeli occupation forces more than six decades of carte blanche in their murderous rampage on the Palestinians.

“When South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention, some countries declared it as counter-productive.

“But what could be more consistent with any reasonable conception of a rule-based order than an appeal to those very rules before a panel of 17 judges?”

Dr Anwar was elected in 2022 after decades in opposition, and has been a vocal advocate for democracy.

Following the ASEAN conference in Melbourne this week, he said Malaysia and Australia must work together to foster stability in the Asia-Pacific region, declaring the nations’ response to the rise of China would determine if there will be peace or “discord”, and events must be viewed from its leaders’ perspective.

“In their eyes the adverse actions to China’s rise – militarily, economically and technologically – represent nothing less than an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history,” he said. “The obstacles being placed against China’s economic and technological advancement will only further accentuate such grievances.

“Nevertheless, we are confronted with the situation of contending perceptions. I do not for one moment suggest that we may turn a blind eye to behaviour or action that is not conformant with international law and norms.”