October 26, 2025 | 08:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators staged protests against U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Malaysia, where he attended the 47th ASEAN Summit.
The protesters gathered at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur and Ampang Park in two separate demonstrations on Sunday morning and evening, voicing opposition to Trump’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
Trump was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the ASEAN Summit, where he witnessed the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand and announced several trade deals.
At Merdeka Square, demonstrators wearing keffiyehs braved the scorching sun while chanting, “Free, Free Palestine.”
Asma Hanim Mahoud, who traveled 300 km from Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia, said she joined the protests, including a Friday demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy.
“People who have a conscience know that Trump is a genocide enabler. Without him, Israel cannot kill all the children and people in Gaza,” she told Al Jazeera. “It’s not rocket science.”
Mahoud expressed frustration after authorities moved the morning protest from Ampang Park, which had been the site of earlier demonstrations near the ASEAN Summit venue.
Malaysian police estimated that around 1,000 to 1,500 people took part in the anti-Trump protests on Sunday, according to the Bernama news agency. Although smaller in number, the protesters came from diverse backgrounds.
Choo Chon Kai, leader of the Socialist Party of Malaysia, attended the rally to protest U.S. foreign policies in the Middle East and elsewhere.
“This is a solidarity rally against US imperialism, as well as solidarity with the people of Palestine and people all over the world who are victims of US imperialism,” Choo told Al Jazeera.
He also expressed disappointment over the relocation of the demonstration from around the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where Trump and other leaders gathered for the summit.
In the evening, protesters returned to Ampang Park to continue voicing their opposition to the U.S. president’s visit.
“We just want to make a point that we are against the US policies, but unfortunately, our police have been very hostile to the protest and even shut down the area where we were going to protest,” Choo said.
Kuala Lumpur resident Mursihidah, who requested her name be withheld, said she and her husband have participated in pro-Palestine protests since 2023.
Although Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement earlier this month, which was also overseen by Trump, violence has persisted. Mursihidah admitted she is unsure why the demonstrations continue.
“This shouldn’t be happening, but somebody has to be their voice. We have to be their voice because they don’t have a voice,” she said.
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