KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has condemned Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia continued to view with great concern the escalation of conflict unfolding across the Middle East.
"We remain steadfast in our call for peace and justice for the Palestinian people, in our unequivocal condemnation of the genocide in Gaza, and in our opposition to the indiscriminate bombing of southern Lebanon.
"That same conviction obliges us to speak with equal clarity and firmness when civilians are attacked elsewhere.
"Malaysia reiterates its condemnation of the attacks by the Houthis on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports and oil and energy installations, whether in Saudi Arabia or in any other GCC state," he said in a statement.
Anwar cited the recent attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which he said killed civilians, including pilgrims.
On Oct 10, a Houthi missile struck the airport, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 300, in the deadliest attack on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
In the weeks before and after the Oct 10 attack, the Houthis launched at least 10 other attacks targeting five Saudi airports.
A subsequent strike on the airport in Riyadh on Oct 11 killed another person, bringing the total death toll from the airport attacks to at least 20.
"It is a sad reminder of what such violence costs ordinary people," Anwar said.
He said he had been in close contact with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Salman and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani, as well as other Gulf leaders.
"These conversations reflect the gravity with which Malaysia regards the present crisis, and the urgency of preventing it from spreading further," he said.
He said Malaysia's concern was with those responsible, not with Yemenis.
"Our concern lies with those responsible for these attacks, not with the Yemeni people, who have endured years of conflict and deserve a lasting political settlement."
Anwar also highlighted the importance of Middle Eastern sea lanes to Malaysia.
"The security of the Middle East's sea lanes is paramount.
"As a trading nation, Malaysia's prosperity rests upon open and secure maritime routes," he said.
He said he had repeatedly underlined the need for the safe passage of civilian and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Malaysia will continue to support diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis and safeguard freedom of navigation," he said.
The Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia came after the group announced in July that it would target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and infrastructure inside the kingdom, following a Saudi attack on the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa.
Malaysia Airlines cancelled all flights connecting Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Johor Bahru (JHB) with Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED) from Oct 12 to 17 due to security concerns following the airport attacks in Saudi Arabia. Normal operations resumed on Oct 18.
The Houthis said the strikes were in response to an intensified Saudi air campaign in Yemen, and renewed warnings to international airlines against flying to Saudi airports.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd