On Buying Russian Oil, Malaysian PM: My Mandate is to Protect the People

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his views on the opportunity to purchase Russian crude oil amid potential international sanctions. In a joint statement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following their meeting in Malaysia on Thursday, Anwar stated that Malaysia has good relations with Russia and that he bears the mandate to protect the interests of the people. “As a country, we maintain relations with many nations. Our largest trade and investment still comes from the United States. Nevertheless, we have good bilateral relations with Russia,” said Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia on Thursday. He did not provide specific explanations regarding the certainty or negotiations for purchasing crude oil from Russia. He stated that his priority is to fulfil the people’s mandate. “Now, I think there is an absolute need that we must manage. Because my priority, the mandate I have, is to protect the interests of the people in this country,” Anwar said. Meanwhile, regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Anwar stated that the fact of an attack on a country cannot be ignored. Therefore, said Anwar, while Malaysia supports the position of freedom of navigation, it also urges guarantees to end hostilities and attacks, including sanctions against other countries.