Group warns Anwar not to bow to US pressure as cops question pro-Palestine protesters

A pro-Palestinian group has warned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take a firm stand in the face of recent moves by Washington to pressure Malaysia to cut off the flow of funds to resistance group Hamas and other organisations it classifies as "terrorist".

The Sekretariat Solidariti Palestin (SSP) called the US "the largest terrorism financer" and described Washington's attempt to dictate to Malaysia how it should organise its foreign policy as "utterly hypocritical".

"We view the recent visit by the delegation of the US Treasury as an implicit act of interference into our domestic affairs," it added.

"Malaysia should not bow to the US intimidation. SSP urges the Anwar Ibrahim government to stand firm to defend Malaysian national sovereignty and dignity."

Last week, Washington dispatched its undersecretary for Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson and Treasury general-counsel Neil MacBride to Kuala Lumpur, where they held talks with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution, MPs and other officials.

The Malaysian government reportedly told the duo that it was not bound by unilateral sanctions such as those imposed by the US on Iran, Hamas and other organisations it accuses of terrorism.

When asked about the visit, Anwar yesterday gave a more cautious response, saying it was Washington's right to demand an explanation.

"They (the US) of course have every right to demand or request for explanation. We do it to a friend who is curious to know what's happening," he said during a session with Bloomberg at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha.

Meanwhile, SSP reminded Anwar that any action against activists who protested the presence of arms dealers aiding Israel's war machine would expose Malaysia's hypocrisy on the world stage.

"On the international stage, the Malaysian government is lauded for daring to express support Palestinian resistance movement.

"Clearly, any attempt to restrict anti-genocide protests locally will be contradictory to the spirit of solidarity with Palestine," said SSP spokesman Tian Chua.

On May 7, SSP organised a protest outside the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (Natsec) Asia exhibition was being held.

The protesters demanded the expulsion of companies whose military equipment has been used by Israel in its current campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed at least 30,000 Palestinians mostly women and children.

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

Anwar dismissed the concerns and said Malaysia has no problem welcoming any company as long as it is not based in Israel.

The view was panned by Palestinian activists, who pointed out Lockheed Martin's decades of strategic ties to boost the Israeli Defence Force.

SSP said that several of the protesters had since been summoned by police for questioning, adding that it was a "form of harassment"

The companies' participation in the exhibition was a mockery of the government's support for the Palestinian cause, it added.

"We call for a comprehensive measure to firmly disassociate Malaysia from any links with the Zionist genocide. We urge the government to be more mindful and vigilant to ensure all its operations are consistently in line with the policy of supporting Palestine."