Egypt and Malaysia Agree to De-escalate and Prioritize Diplomacy to Resolve Crises
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasized on Saturday the importance of strengthening ties with Malaysia across various areas of mutual interest, establishing a practical framework to boost cooperation, intensifying political consultations between the two countries, and coordinating jointly at multilateral forums on regional and international issues, as well as matters of concern to Islamic nations.
The Egyptian Presidency stated in a press release that during a meeting with Malaysian Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur, el-Sisi praised the “shared historical relations” between the two countries.
According to the statement, el-Sisi outlined “Egypt’s strenuous efforts aimed at reducing current regional tensions,” for which Sultan Ibrahim commended “the pivotal role played by Egypt, and its president personally, in establishing peace and stability in the Middle East region.”
El-Sisi commended Malaysia’s significant role, citing its historic support for the Palestinian cause, affirming that it remains the central issue in the Middle East. He stressed the necessity of resolving it in a just and comprehensive manner, ensuring the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and based on the two-state solution.
During a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, el-Sisi stated, “Our discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on rapid developments at the international and regional levels. We agreed on the importance of de-escalation and prioritizing diplomatic solutions to resolve various crises, contributing to peace and supporting development for different countries and peoples. I seize this occasion to reaffirm Egypt’s continued strenuous efforts to halt escalation in the Middle East, which requires concerted efforts by all parties to work toward peace, uphold international law—particularly regarding respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs.”
He added, “We discussed developments concerning the Palestinian issue, considered the central issue in the region, and emphasized the necessity of a just and comprehensive settlement in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and based on the two-state solution. This ensures the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. I also commend Malaysia’s supportive stance toward the Palestinian cause and its commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. I reiterate Egypt’s complete rejection of any attempts aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, altering the demographic composition of Palestinian territories, or fragmenting them, amid alarming developments in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the expansion of settlement activities, and attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites.”
He noted that he discussed with the Malaysian Prime Minister “views on several other issues, including the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, and affirmed that achieving comprehensive political settlements is the only way to end all regional crises.”
El-Sisi and Sultan Ibrahim witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
El-Sisi departed Malaysia and arrived in Indonesia on Saturday for an official visit, marking the third stop on his Asian tour, which began in South Korea.
Separately, Egypt condemned, in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the attacks on Saudi Arabia, which targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and a Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, resulting in the deaths of three Saudi citizens and injuring several civilians.”
She emphasized her “complete rejection of those attacks as a blatant violation of international law, and her full solidarity with the Kingdom in all measures it takes to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens.”
On the Palestinian front, the Egyptian Committee in the Gaza Strip announced that it is continuing its efforts to replace old tents with new ones before the onset of winter, as part of initiatives aimed at providing better shelter for Palestinian families suffering from the consequences of the war.
In a separate development, an informed Egyptian source stated that the European Parliament’s call for a comprehensive review of European funding for individuals and entities linked to the banned group constitutes an official acknowledgment of its terrorist nature. The European Parliament’s decision calling for the Muslim Brotherhood to be placed on European terrorist lists underscores the deep concern within European countries over the group’s terrorist practices.
He added that the European Parliament’s call places responsibility on member states to adopt a collective stance regarding the financing of the Muslim Brotherhood, and that the decision reflects the growing awareness within the international community of the danger posed by the Muslim Brotherhood, its practices, and its terrorist ideology. The European decision represents an important step following the United States’ inclusion of the group’s branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon on the U.S. terrorist list earlier this year.
