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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 62882, member: 636"] Malaysian officials defended inviting Donald Trump to next month's ASEAN Summit as an opportunity to address Middle East tensions directly with the American president. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the gathering allows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to present the 10-nation bloc's unified position on Palestinian issues. Malaysia holds the rotating chairmanship representing 680 million people across Southeast Asia's economically significant region. Saifuddin Nasution rejected criticism about hosting the U.S. leader despite his support for Israel during the Gaza operations. Anwar will speak for ASEAN member states before attending leaders from China, India, Russia, and Brazil at the Kuala Lumpur conference. The prime minister plans to raise humanitarian concerns through diplomatic channels while maintaining strategic relationships with major powers. [/QUOTE]