Anwar is the staunchest advocate of the Palestinian cause in Southeast Asia, saying last yr that Malaysia wouldn’t recognize what he said was a unilateral attempt by the United States to limit support for Hamas.
Malaysia’s leaders have an extended history of friendly relations with the group and routinely appear at national protests against U.S. and Western world support for Israel.
Hamas is taken into account a terrorist group by the US and the European Union. More than a decade ago, the group opened a political office in Qatar in cooperation with the United States after requesting a channel to speak with the organization. Qatar is acting as a mediator in indirect talks between Israel, Hamas and Western powers.
