Malaysia’s PM Anwar slams the West’s inconsistency with international laws in Israel-Gaza war

The West has given “carte blanche” to Israel to continue its “murderous rampage on the Palestinians” for six decades, he said while giving the annual Gareth Evans oration at Canberra’s Australian National University on Thursday following the Asean-Australia Special Summit.

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

“Unfortunately, the gut-wrenching tragedy that continues to unfold in the Gaza Strip has laid bare the self-serving nature of much valued, the much vaunted rules based order.”

He said the differing and inconsistent responses by the West “defied reasoning” and there was no room for the selective application of international laws.

“As we strive to build a more peaceful and economically vibrant region, I believe it’s a fool’s errand to think that the liberal international order and the inconsistencies in the application of principles, rules and norms will go unnoticed, nor should we descend into cynicism and declare that no country can ever be fully consistent in international affairs,” he said.

“Consistency matters. International law matters, so does a commitment to fair play and mutual respect among nations.”

Anwar was twice jailed over the course of his career, which started in the 1980s, for sodomy.

While both countries were once part of the same Malaya, Singapore went on to be a more economically powerful and stable country following its separation from Malaya in 1965.

Anwar said Malaysia no longer has a “phobia” about trailing Singapore and was working “very well” together, highlighting their latest