Anwar: Malaysia Israel Policy Based on Their Oppression, Not Antisemitism

PORT DICKSON — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has affirmed that Malaysia’s firm stance against Israel is grounded in opposition to cruelty and oppression rather than antisemitism.

Speaking to reporters following a programme at the basic army training centre here today, Anwar stressed that Putrajaya will not alter its long-standing policy barring Israeli citizens from entering the country, despite recent objections raised by United States lawmakers.

“We will not budge because the issue is not that we are insulting the Jews. We oppose Israel’s cruelty and oppression. That is something we must clarify – they are raising this issue as if we are opposed to an ethnic group,” Anwar stated.

“We are not against any ethnic group; we are against an oppressive state,” he added.

Anwar’s remarks follow a joint letter from eight US lawmakers urging US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review bilateral security and economic ties with Malaysia over Putrajaya’s entry prohibition against Israeli nationals. The American representatives accused Putrajaya of “welcoming terrorists while targeting Jews,” citing a report by an Israeli counter-terrorism research institute alleging that Hamas members had trained in Malaysia.

Dismissing the allegations as entirely baseless, Anwar highlighted that Malaysia has barred Israeli citizens for decades. He emphasized that the government will not be intimidated into changing its sovereign entry policies and expressed confidence that the issue would not jeopardize diplomatic relations with Washington.

On a separate trade matter, the Prime Minister disclosed that Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Ghani is handling ongoing negotiations with US authorities regarding an additional 10 per cent tariff levied on nearly all Malaysian exports.

“If there are aspects (of the new tariff) that we are dissatisfied with, we will raise our concerns. But we feel relieved, at least, that the tariff is less than those imposed on other countries,” Anwar noted.

Malaysia was categorized in the lower 10 per cent tariff band, compared to the 12.5 per cent baseline rate assigned to most other economies. The placement was linked to commitments concerning forced labor import prohibitions under a reciprocal trade agreement with the US, though Johari declared those commitments nullified in March.

-NMT