Dancing along with Trump: Critics say PM shouldn't give 'too much face'

Several quarters have criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for appearing to “dance to the tune” of US President Donald Trump during the latter’s arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.

Slamming Anwar for his supposedly “unbecoming” conduct, Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir raised doubts over whether the prime minister’s claim that Trump’s visit is a chance for Malaysia to raise concerns on the US’ alleged complicity in crimes against Palestine will materialise.

“With someone like him (Trump), Anwar shouldn’t be giving too much face,” Mukhriz told Malaysiakini at the sidelines of an anti-Trump protest at Dataran Merdeka today.

“(Anwar) was the one who said inviting Trump was an opportunity for us to show that we are firm in speaking out - I still remember that.

“But, if (Anwar) is dancing at the airport, I don’t see how he’s going to be firm with Trump,” he added.

Earlier this morning, Trump was seen dancing on the red carpet upon his arrival in Malaysia, with the US president moving to the music in front of dancers shortly after descending from Air Force One.

Anwar, who was there alongside Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and US Ambassador Edgard D Kagan to welcome Trump, seemed delighted with the US president’s reaction.

This unfolded amid mounting condemnation of Trump’s arrival for the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, with many lambasting Washington’s perceived complicity in the ongoing genocide of Palestine.

Several parties, including Mukhriz’s father, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had previously urged Anwar to rescind the latter’s invitation for Trump to attend the Asean summit in light of the matter.

On Oct 21, in response to widespread criticism over Trump’s visit, Anwar said he will be speaking to the US president about the situation in Gaza, among other pressing issues.

‘Trump not a friend’

Mukhriz, however, questioned whether the prime minister could hold Trump accountable, describing the US president as someone who “sells himself.”

“We’re taught to be selective in choosing our friends, and someone like Trump is not a person we can befriend,” he said.

“Because we know he’s the kind of person whose words don’t match his actions - he’ll sell himself beyond what he actually does.

“For example, he supposedly made a peace plan for Gaza, but hundreds have been killed during the ceasefire period,” Mukhriz added.

Overly festive welcome

Expressing similar sentiments, Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin said that while he has no issue with welcoming Trump as a head of state visiting for diplomatic and intergovernmental purposes, a “simple, measured” reception would have sufficed.

“However, an overly festive welcome with dances and all sorts of celebration, to me, does not reflect our protest against (Trump’s) long record of wrongdoing,” Asri said in a Facebook post.

He also asserted that Trump would likely face protests and a cold reception if he were to visit European countries, as it would be made evident that the US president is “disliked” there.

“Here, he arrives dancing with joy because Malaysian youths are welcoming him with performances.

“The genocide, the weapons aid, and the veto power he used to enable all of it seem to carry no consequence for him in Muslim countries. It is heartbreaking,” Asri added.

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