Beyond the rhetoric of Muslim unity, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is aware of the economic benefits of working with diplomacy-rich Turkey and technologically advanced Iran. FMTNews Mahathir Saudi
December 23, 2019 1:37 PM
Politically, a former Malaysian diplomat who served in the Middle East said the KL Summit had “struck at the heart of a long-held myth” that forces Muslim leaders to publicly toe Riyadh’s line. FMT last week quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the Saudis were incensed after Mahathir’s refusal to back down amid pressure to cancel the summit, which was initially a joint effort by Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.
Tamimi, who heads Alhiwar TV, a pan-Arabian current affairs satellite channel critical of Saudi policies, said leaders in KL had come close to forging an alliance that counters the “Saudi-UAE-led coalition of counterrevolutionary forces in the Muslim world”. Akyol, who has criticised undemocratic policies by Muslim governments including Malaysia, also welcomed Mahathir’s “honest” opinion that Muslims had lost respect on the global stage.
“His absence was notable, especially as the man he has always referred to as his ‘close friend’, Erdogan, was in town,” said a source. “For decades when he was in the government, though this has changed, Anwar chose to mingle with the Gulf governments and organisations to show that he was their man in Malaysia,” said a former official of the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement , a once-firebrand organisation which Anwar founded in the late 1970s.
Sources said the prime minister was aware of the backlash from conservative religionists, as well as Western-trained military top brass. He said Mahathir was aware of Iran’s advanced technology, something Western and Israeli critics of the Islamic republic also admitted to when accusing it of nuclear ambitions.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Muslim world needs more Malalas rather than GretasWe also need courageous people who will take on the Talibans of this world. FMTNews Muslim
Read more »
6 more killed in clashes over India's 'anti-Muslim' citizenship law5 demonstrators confirmed to have died from 'gunshot wounds'. FMTNews AntiMuslim
Read more »
Yoursay: Dr M’s Muslim trade pact not grounded in realityYOURSAY | ‘Mahathir's religion-based nationalism in economic matters is as outdated as...’
Read more »
Modi says citizenship law not anti-Muslim as protests continueHis nationalist party plans to hold more than 200 news conferences to counter the protests.
Read more »
Do more to help Muslim refugees, says Perak SultanKUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has urged Muslim nations to place the issue of nationless Muslims as the highest priority to resolve.
Read more »
PM calls on Muslim nations to be self-reliantNSTnation: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that if Muslim nations cooperated, especially on ensuring mutual economic wellbeing, it could help tide over external challenges. KLSummit2019 KualaLumpurSummit2019
Read more »