BDS Malaysia rejects Anwar's excuse for allowing firms aiding Israel in KL exhibition

The Malaysian chapter of an anti-Israel boycott movement has questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's reasoning for allowing the presence of companies that supply weapons to Israel at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (Natsec) Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia, part of the global movement which organises the boycott of companies, brands and academic institutions that allegedly fund and support the Israeli regime, directly or indirectly, said there was no question of whether the companies were registered in Israel.

It said what mattered was whether they were involved in helping the Zionist state commit genocide in Gaza.

"If the government is serious about defending the people of Palestine, it must re-evaluate its ties with these companies because we want them to immediately stop abetting with Israel in its oppression of the Palestinian people," BDS Malaysia president Nazari Ismail told MalaysiaNow.

Yesterday, dozens of people gathered outside the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center to protest the participation of several companies that supply military equipment to Israel, used in its military campaign in Gaza.

The companies include Lockheed Martin and MBDA (BAE Systems) as well as Aim Point, Colt, L3Harris, Leupold, Shield AI and Leonardo.

Their participation in the exhibition also drew condemnation from former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who demanded that the government expel the companies from Malaysia.

Anwar however defended the move to allow the companies' participation in the exhibition, saying it was not a problem as long as they are not registered in Israel.

Nazari said the government should not adopt a "business as usual" attitude with the companies involved.

He said Putrajaya should also end all of its dealings with the companies, in addition to ensuring no acquisition or purchase of military equipment from them.

"It is critical that we act to stop the massacre in Gaza now.

"One of the ways is to make sure these companies are held accountable for their complicity, and to urge all parties not to award them with any contracts," said Nazari.

Anwar's argument that the government has no problem with firms participating in the exhibition as long as they are not registered in Israel raises questions as to whether Malaysia would tolerate any non-Israeli entity even if they are involved in aiding Israel.

The US-based Lockheed Martin, for example, states on its website that it is "proud of the significant role it has fulfilled in the security of the state of Israel".

Lockheed Martin is among US defence companies with the biggest investments in Israel as part of the so-called Peace Marble programmes to supply F16 fighter jets. 

In 2014, Lockheed Martin signed numerous agreements with Israeli defence companies, one of which resulted in a contract for Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to build F-35 wing parts over the course of 15 years worth US$2.5 billion. 

Some 40 Israeli companies involved in defence, technology and research benefitted from the collaboration with Lockheed Martin, which is expected to exceed US$4 billion. 

Nazari said BDS Malaysia would propose to the government trade policies and practices based on a clear foreign policy that does not recognise Israel.

"The illegal state of Israel that was built upon the confiscation of Palestinian lands and characterised by its apartheid policies has long lost any right to be recognised on intellectual or moral grounds.

"Its inability to justify its existence and actions has been made clear to the whole world."