PM Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia will continue barring Israeli nationals despite objections from US Congress members, defending the policy as a stand against oppression.
SEREMBAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed that Malaysia will continue to bar Israeli nationals from entering the country despite objections raised by eight members of the United States Congress.
Anwar said the Malaysian Government’s position is guided by its commitment to defending the rights of the people and opposing the oppression, aggression and continued killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
He stressed that the policy is not new, having been in place for decades, and should already be well known to the United States.
“Several members of the US Congress have criticised me over Malaysia’s decision to bar Israeli nationals from entering the country and from participating in companies and related activities.
“That will not deter us. They may issue threats, but I will firmly defend the rights of the Malaysian people and uphold the government’s decision to continue prohibiting the entry of any Israeli national into Malaysia.”
He said this to reporters after launching the “Jelajah Rakan Muda” programme at the Youth and Sports Complex (KOMBES) in Paroi, which was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
The Prime Minister was responding to a statement by eight US Congressmen yesterday, who sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their dissatisfaction with Anwar’s firm action to immediately deport Israeli citizens in Malaysia.
The eight Congressmen from the Democratic Party are Greg Landsman, Josh Gottheimer, Jimmy Panetta, Dan Goldman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz, Brad Sherman and Jake Auchincloss.
“How can elected representatives in that country (US) remain silent over the killing of children, civilians and women, the destruction of homes and the occupation of land?
“Malaysia is an independent nation. Even if those making such statements are not free to speak out, we are free to express our views,” he said.
Asked whether the issue could affect Malaysia-US bilateral relations, Anwar said it should not.
On allegations linking Malaysia to Hamas, the Prime Minister said he had never concealed his meetings with the group’s leaders, explaining that they were held to express sympathy for families affected by bombings and killings.
He also dismissed the criticism by the US lawmakers as baseless.
