Bersatu tells Anwar, PKR to state stand on Israel after pics of 'Mossad agent' waving party flag

Bersatu has urged PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to state his stand on Israel after two of the 11 individuals recently charged with kidnapping and suspected of working for Mossad were pictured waving the PKR flag.

Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu also urged PKR to investigate the extent of pro-Israeli infiltration in the party as well as among its supporters and members.

"PKR and PH should not remain silent on this important issue involving national security," he said.

He also questioned PKR for being "defensive" over the matter, saying a brief denial by its information chief Fahmi Fadzil that the two suspects - a married couple - were party members was not enough.

He said a more pressing concern was whether there were elements in support of the Zionist state within PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH).

"This brings us back to the big question, what is the actual stance of Anwar and PH towards the Zionist Israeli regime?" Faizal asked in a statement.

On Oct 14, 11 individuals were charged with the abduction of Omar ZM Albelbaisy Raeda, a Palestinian computer programmer whom Israel believed was working for Hamas.

The New Straits Times reported that a group of Malaysians believed to have been hired by Mossad had stopped Omar and another Palestinian in the heart of Kuala Lumpur last month, in an incident reminiscent of the shooting of a Palestinian activist in the city four years ago.

Malaysian police later tracked the abductors in a chalet in Kuala Langat, where they stormed an interrogation session before freeing the Palestinian and arresting more than a dozen individuals.

The incident sparked fears of Mossad’s reach in the country in order to carry out covert operations using local mercenaries.

Days after the revelation, photos on social media showed one of the suspects, a Malaysian named Raibafie Amdan, waving the PKR flag. The photo was uploaded by his wife Nidarahayu Zainal who was also charged with the abduction. 

PKR immediately distanced itself from the couple, saying it was beyond the party’s means to stop anyone in "their actions and choices".

Anwar's 2012 statement on Israel

This is not the first time Anwar has found himself grilled on his stand on the Palestinian conflict, which has evoked strong sentiments among the local Muslim community.

In 2012, then Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin slammed Anwar in Parliament over a statement by the opposition leader that he would "support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel", in remarks published by The Wall Street Journal.

"Does Anwar still maintain that he will support all efforts to defend the security of the Zionist state of Israel from any security threats?" asked Faizal.

He also recalled a DAP senator's proposal in 2019 that Malaysia set up an embassy in Israel. Nga Hock Cheh later apologised for the statement, saying it had been made "with a view of helping Palestine achieve peace".

Faizal said Anwar's stand on Israel was serious as he was the prime ministerial candidate for PH at the coming polls.

"Is he ready to retract his statement and make a pledge to the people that he will not compromise with Israel?" he asked.