KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that he is not the person who should be credited for organizing the humanitarian mission Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) as well as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC x TMTG).
The Prime Minister said this is because GSF was not his initiative, but rather one driven by global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) concerned about the oppression faced by the Palestinian people.
Instead, Anwar explained that it was merely by coincidence that he became the first world leader to express official support for the humanitarian mission.
“The (GSF and FFC x TMTG) initiative wasn’t mine. I can’t take credit for it.
There was a group of young Malaysians who wanted to lead the effort, and I said okay — we’ll give our support and assistance.
“Later, they asked me to give full and official recognition to the initiative, and I said yes to them.
It just so happened that I became the first world leader to officially endorse (the GSF and FFC x TMTG initiative),” he said.
He said this during a session titled “In Conversation with the Prime Minister” held in conjunction with the International Young Leaders Summit (iFUTURE) 2025 at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur today.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, his deputy Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, and Director-General of Higher Education Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman.
Meanwhile, Anwar said he plans to contact Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss implementing the second wave of the Sumud Nusantara mission via the Rafah crossing.
He said this follows recent developments in the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and peace agreement, which have temporarily eased the suffering of people in Gaza.
Anwar also acknowledged the roles played by U.S. President Donald Trump, Qatar’s President Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Abdel Fattah, and all nations supporting the peace initiative.
“We hope this ceasefire succeeds, as it’s crucial for regional stability and for humanity as a whole. The mediating teams are currently in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss the early stages of implementation.
“I’ve also advised our friends in the Sumud Nusantara Flotilla that this time, they need not go by sea — instead, they should go by land.
“I hope to contact Abdel Fattah in the next few days to propose that he allow our team to deliver aid through the Rafah crossing,” he said.
