Now, Anwar claims discussed with Hamas about Malaysia's dealings with Israeli-linked firms

Anwar Ibrahim has made a startling claim that he had discussed the issue of Malaysia's business dealings with Israeli-linked companies with Palestinian resistance group Hamas,  as the prime minister once again defended the controversial deal to bring a firm owned by US fund manager BlackRock into the national airport consortium.

He was responding in the Dewan Rakyat when asked by a government MP whether there would be any consequences if Putrajaya abandoned the plan to allow BlackRock firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to take a 30% stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB), which has sparked a storm of protest due to BlackRock's reputation as a Zionist-friendly company.

"The implications are serious. Firstly, the listing. That will be used against me.

"If a company has interests in Israel... Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, they all have interests in Israel. Should we stop dealing (with them)?" said Anwar.

In his criticism believed to be aimed at those calling on the government to cancel deals with companies accused of complicity in Israel's genocide, Anwar said: .

"It sounds good, it's nice for people to hear that we are great fighters. But it's not realistic.

"I have spoken to the leadership of Hamas, the question does not arise," he said.

"It's like being more Hamas than Hamas."

Perikatan Nasional's Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad then questioned the choice of GIP, saying the New York-based company has not proven to be a good airport operator.

He said the government should have turned to other companies that operate more successful airports in Asia.

In his response, Anwar, who is also chairman of Khazanah Nasional, said it chose GIP as its partner because other companies were not willing to join without a majority stake.

Yesterday, 22 civil society organisations called on Anwar to make "the right and conscionable decision" by cancelling the plan to sell MAHB's shares to GIP.

"The situation is straightforward and widely understood: a Zionist entity is conducting a settler-colonial and racist genocide in Gaza. To halt this atrocity, those opposing genocide must act collectively to disrupt the systems enabling such crimes against humanity," said the joint statement by prominent Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups.

The BlackRock issue has emerged as one of Anwar's greatest challenges since his appointment to the top post,and comes against a backdrop of a perception that he is more friendly with the US and Israel, with critics citing past statements including his interview with the Wall Street Journal in 2012 which quoted him as saying that he would "support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel".

Anwar has taken pains to change this perception with speeches and statements criticising Washington's support for Israel, in addition to his attendance at meetings with global Muslim leaders in the wake of Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza last year which has so far killed at least 35,000 Palestinians.