JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA, Oct 5, 2025 – The close relationship between Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not only forms a long-standing bond of friendship but also serves as a crucial diplomatic channel in efforts to free 23 Malaysian volunteers detained by Israeli forces during the recent Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission to Gaza.
In a media statement today, Central Executive Committee (CEC) member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Johor DAP Deputy Chairman, Sheikh Umar Bagharib bin Ali, praised Erdogan’s swift initiative to utilize diplomatic channels between Ankara and Tel Aviv to expedite the release process. “This is not the first time Turkey has demonstrated firmness against Israel’s actions,” wrote Sheikh Umar, referencing the 2010 incident involving the attack on the Mavi Marmara ship carrying activists from over 30 countries, where Ankara successfully freed all detainees within a few days through resolute diplomacy.
The Anwar-Erdogan relationship, which was forged when Anwar was still leading Malaysia’s opposition, has grown even stronger since Anwar’s appointment as Prime Minister. Erdogan was among the first world leaders to offer congratulations and express a desire to strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and Turkey. In fact, in 2019, Erdogan invited Anwar to Ankara to attend the AK Party Congress, even though Anwar was not yet the country’s leader at the time.
Sheikh Umar, who was with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) about 15 years ago, recalls that there was a group within the party that strongly supported Anwar’s reformist approach, dubbed the “Team Erdogan” due to the alignment of their political style and spirit of renewal with the Turkish president’s leadership. He emphasized that although Turkey-Israel relations are often tense, bilateral trade between the two countries remains robust, valued at nearly US$7 billion annually in sectors such as chemicals, technology, and agriculture. “Therefore, when Erdogan speaks, Israel cannot take it lightly,” he said.
According to Sheikh Umar, this “Turkish factor” provides Malaysia with a diplomatic advantage, allowing the 23 citizens to be released and brought home directly through official channels, without additional conditions such as transfer to a third country. “This success demonstrates Malaysia’s ability to protect its citizens abroad, as well as the integrity of its relations with regional powers like Turkey that function in a tangible way,” he added.
He also stressed that without this strategic network of friendships, Malaysia’s GSF activists might still be detained to this day. While acknowledging criticisms of Erdogan’s leadership, Sheikh Umar opined that the Turkish administration has its own justifications in charting Turkey’s direction in geopolitics and international diplomacy. “Malaysia may be a small country, but it’s not just any small country. With allies like Turkey, we can stand as tall and speak as loudly as big nations,” he said, likening it to how ASEAN leverages ties with the European Union to strengthen the region’s voice.