Malaysian PM Anwar Rejects US Demand to Lift Israel Entry Ban
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rejects US lawmakers' demand to lift long-standing ban on Israeli nationals, asserting sovereign rights.
POLICY WIRE — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has firmly rejected a demand by eight US lawmakers to suspend military training funds unless Kuala Lumpur reverses its long-standing restrictions on Israeli nationals.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has long been one of Southeast Asia’s most vocal supporters of Palestinian statehood. Anwar emphasized that Malaysia was exercising its sovereign right to control entry.
“The demand is totally absurd,” Anwar stated. “We’re exercising our sovereign right to control who enters our country. There’s no violation of any international law or agreement.”
The US lawmakers had threatened to withhold military training funds if Malaysia didn’t lift its restrictions. However, Anwar made it clear that such threats wouldn’t influence Malaysia’s policies.
“We won’t be coerced into changing our stance on issues of national — and international importance,” he added.
Malaysia’s stance on Israel is rooted in its support for Palestinian rights and its lack of diplomatic relations with Israel. The country has consistently advocated for a two-state solution and has been a strong voice for Palestinian statehood in international forums.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)