Malaysia defies US sanctions, renews Palestinian Resistance support

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Nov 2023 14:08
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The Malaysian Prime Minister declares that Kuala Lumpur will not yield to US pressure and will not "recognize any unilateral sanction passed."

Palestinian children living in Malaysia attend a rally to show their support for the Palestinian people, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 (AP)

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim declared that Kuala Lumpur will not "recognize any unilateral sanction passed by any other country, including the US," as he reaffirmed Malaysia's staunch position in support of Palestine and the Palestinian Resistance in the face of the US.

The US-proposed legislation, known as the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, has been aimed against overseas supporters of Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance groups.

While the Act is currently under consideration by the US Senate following its approval by the House of Representatives, the Malaysian PM proclaimed Kuala Lumpur will not yield to the pressure and will refuse to cut the international funding of the Resistance in the face of Israeli occupation supported by the US and NATO.

MALAYSIA will not recognise the upcoming American unilateral decision to impose sanctions against foreign entities, that support Hamas & that decision will not change Malaysia’s stand towards Palestine and the conflict.
Biden's gov proves daily that it's actually more Zionist… pic.twitter.com/dZnflnAcsE
— د.عـبدالله العـمـادي (@Abdulla_Alamadi) November 7, 2023

US efforts to restrict external parties from supporting Hamas are unilateral, and Malaysia will not recognize it, Ibrahim told Parliament on Tuesday.

"We only recognize decisions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that are considered multilateral," he announced.

Malaysian leaders over the years have held regular communications with leaders of the Palestinian Resistance group.

“We continue our relations with Hamas, before and now,” Anwar said. “And we do not consider [to] punish Hamas as a terrorist organization.”

The Malaysian leader compared Hamas to Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress’s push to end apartheid in South Africa, saying “Palestine is colonized through apartheid, ethnic cleansing and now genocide. Hence, whatever happened is the legitimate right and struggle of the Palestinian people.”

🇲🇾 🇵🇸 — Malaysia said today it will not accept unilateral sanctions under the proposed US legislation targeting foreign supporters of Hamas and Palestinian resistance organizations.

“We do not recognize any unilateral sanction passed by any other country, including the US,” said… pic.twitter.com/oy9NyUBkZK
— Mister J. - مسٹر جے (@Angryman_J) November 7, 2023

Malaysia, a Muslim-majority Asian country with a sizeable economy, has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Earlier in October, Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim called for an "immediate cessation of the bombing in Gaza and the opening of a humanitarian corridor" following a phone call with the head of Hamas' political office, Ismail Haniyeh. Ibrahim assured Haniyeh that Malaysians stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with Gaza in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Ibrahim had also made a clear and firm statement, noting that he "does not agree with Western pressure to condemn Hamas."

I had a phone conversation with Hamas Head of Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh yesterday to express Malaysia's unwavering support for the Palestinian people.

Given the dire situation in Gaza, I strongly advocate for the immediate cessation of bombardment and the establishment of… pic.twitter.com/9Ozro8xtC3
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) October 17, 2023

Malaysia affirms support for Gaza, withdraws from Frankfurt book fair

The Malaysian Ministry of Education withdrew from participation in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, accusing the organizers of taking a pro-Israeli occupation stance and affirming the Palestinian people's right to their land and life amid the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza.

Malaysia's decision to withdraw from the world's largest book fair came after the literary association Litprom announced it would postpone an award ceremony for a Palestinian author at the fair under the pretext of the ongoing war in Palestine.

The fair's organizers also announced on Facebook that they "wish to make Jewish and Israeli voices particularly visible in this year's book fair."

The Malaysian Ministry of Education announced that they "will not turn a blind eye to the violence committed by Israel in Palestine, which is a clear violation of international laws and human rights." They added that the decision to withdraw aligns with the government's position of solidarity and full support for Palestine.