Hamzah tells Anwar to cancel Trump visit, as Putrajaya switches to Asean card amid growing protest

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has joined the chorus of calls to urge Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reject Trump, even as Putrajaya argues that the US president was being hosted by Asean.

"Today we see Trump as the world's biggest actor in the Palestinian struggle. We don't want Trump to come. Reject Trump!" he told a rally in Kuala Lumpur to press to oppose the controversial plan to enact the Urban Renewal Act (URA), as well as to protest Anwar's invitation to Trump.

"Anwar, remember, you once fought for justice. Now it's just a farce. Resign! Enough is enough," said Hamzah.

Other speakers at the protest have compared URA to the Zionist land grab in the Occupied Territories, saying it began with the Arab landowners being shortchanged with compensation in exchange for fertile Palestinian agricultural land for Jewish migrants.

The government has repeatedly defended its invitation to Trump despite growing opposition from leading activists and pro-Palestine supporters.

In its latest defence, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Trump was not invited by Malaysia in the context of bilateral ties.

"He is the head of a country that is a dialogue partner of Asean.  As Asean chair, we are obliged to invite all heads of state to attend the 46th and 47th summits," said Mohamad.

In response, prominent lawyer Rafique Rashid, addressing the gathering today, warned that the government would use media in the coming days to promote the narrative that Trump was being hosted by Asean.

"In a day or two, the media and government propaganda will once again play say that the invitation is extended in the spirit of Asean. The spirit of Asean and the spirit of Malaysia is about sovereignty, independence, the right to speak out and the right to fight colonialists.

"If that is Malaysia and that is Asean, reject Trump's presence in Malaysia," he said.

On Thursday, Selangor opposition leader Azmin Ali also urged Anwar to immediately withdraw the invitation to Trump, saying that taxpayers’ money should not be spent to roll out the red carpet and host "those who enable oppression".

"If the government fails to act, Malaysia will be complicit in silence and betrayal of its own people and principles," he said.

Earlier, Federal Territories mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil came under fire from Muslims and pro-Palestinian supporters after his attempt to justify Anwar's red carpet welcome for Trump.

Fauwaz accused those opposed to Trump's presence as being clouded by "emotions and radical sentiments", adding that Muslims should welcome him in line with the Islamic principle of preserving peace.

The statement drew immediate condemnation from a Muslim intellectual group.

"There is no greater betrayal to the Palestinian cause than to welcome in our land the greatest ally of their oppressors," saidIslamic Renaissance Front director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, who described Trump as a "devilish figure" and the greatest ally of Israel.