Anwar Ibrahim Affirms Malaysia Will Maintain Ban on Israeli Citizens

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has affirmed that his country will continue to bar Israeli citizens from entering Malaysia, despite the policy being criticised by several members of the United States Congress.

“We will not allow a single Israeli citizen to set foot in Malaysia,” Anwar Ibrahim said firmly during an event in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

Anwar said several members of the US Congress considered Malaysia’s policy of barring Israeli citizens from entering the country to be contrary to international law and disrespectful of the rights of other nations.

Anwar regarded the criticism as unreasonable, as Malaysia’s policy has been in place for several decades.

“We oppose the presence of any Israeli citizen — not Jews, but Israeli citizens — because they are part of and involved in the ongoing killings, crimes, oppression and colonisation against Palestine and Gaza,” he asserted.

Anwar said that whilst some countries may choose to remain silent over the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people, Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, exercises its right to uphold humanity.

Reports in the Malaysian media stated that at least eight members of the US Congress have criticised Malaysia’s policy. They have urged the US government to review its cooperative relations with Malaysia.