UPDATES

A political storm over Israel in Malaysia

Feb 16, 2012 | Michael Shannon

A political storm over Israel in Malaysia
Anwar Ibrahim with Khaled Meshaal in Qatar

A political storm in Malaysia over controversial remarks by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s on Israel has not yet come to a close.

Back in January, a war of words erupted between Anwar and several top government officials, including his former mentor Dr. Mahathir Mohammed, regarding Malaysia’s policy on Israel – a raw nerve among the country’s Muslim-majority population.

Anwar, who was acquitted of sodomy charges less than two months ago, was quoted as having declared support for protecting the state of Israel’s security to the Wall Street Journal in an interview published on January 26.

He was quoted as saying: “Some refuse to recognise the state of Israel… but I think our policy should be clear – protect the security (of Israel) but you must be as firm in protecting the legitimate interests of Palestinians.”

Later, Anwar was made to clarify his stand in which he said that the remarks were consistent with the two-state solution that is accepted by the Arab world, as well as Malaysia, and Fatah, which heads the Palestinian Authority.

Now, a barely reported meeting between Anwar and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Doha, Qatar last week appears to signal an attempt to burnish his pro-Palestinian credentials back home, although details of the meeting remain scarce.

As reported in the Opposition-controlled Malay-language Keadilan Daily, Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, also met firebrand Egyptian cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi during the Qatar visit, where the Palestinian cause and the challenges of Muslims in the world, including Malaysia and the Arab Spring were reportedly discussed.

However, Anwar is still under attack from not only his political rivals, but now from his supposed political allies.

Nik Abdul Aziz, the spiritual leader of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), said Anwar must withdraw his statement or sue the Wall Street Journal if his statement were misreported.

PAS is part of the tri-party alliance of opposition parties in Malaysia, known as the People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat), which is headed by Anwar. In 2008, the loose alliance managed to deny the governing Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority for the first time in Malaysia’s history as well as securing control over five state assemblies.

Aziz told reporters that PAS was not supportive of the two-state solution to the Palestinian cause that Anwar had spoken of in the WSJ interview.

The Malaysian Insider reports that Anwar will be meeting Nik Aziz to explain the statements that he had made regarding Israel.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, Abdelaziz Abughoush, has said that Palestine is the core issue for all Muslims, and as such it was “weird” to have such a statement from a Malaysian Muslim leader.

“Malaysia is a pioneer in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause. We are shocked and surprised by the weird statement in which he supported the security of Israel,” Abdelaziz said in a statement.

The Malaysian Star also reports today that the al-Quds Malaysia Foundation chairman Nasharudin Mat had Hamas’ displeasure at Anwar’s comments conveyed to him by its Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh during Nasharudin’s recent visit to Kuwait.

Nasharudin had said Hamas officials had asked him why Anwar made the statement, which contravened a 1988 fatwa issued by 66 muftis that any action that gave recognition to Israel’s existence opposed Islam.

Michael Shannon

 

Tags: ,

RELATED ARTICLES


A scene from the unusually intense and extended battle that took place in Jenin on June 19, which left eight Israelis injured and seven Palestinians dead, six of them gunmen (Photo: Ayman Nobani/dpa/Alamy Live News)

Growing security challenges in the northern West Bank

Jun 27, 2023 | Update
Khamenei called for Iran to create 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power capacity - which would require at least 19 more plants the size of Iran's only current nuclear power plant, the Russian-built Bushehr plant (Image: Wikimedia Commons).

Iran’s ambiguous pronouncements on a possible new nuclear deal

Jun 16, 2023 | Update
Image: Shutterstock, Stuart Miles

A “Less for Less” Nuclear Deal with Iran?

Jun 9, 2023 | Update
Recent weeks have seen the rei-gnition of intense discussions regarding US efforts to negotiate a Saudi-Israel normalisation deal (Image: Shutterstock, lunopark)

Saudi-Israel deal progress?/ Israel and Erdogan’s Turkey

Jun 5, 2023 | Update
Palestinian demonstrators demand the resignation of PA President Mahmoud Abbas - the PA is increasingly viewed by many Palestinians as no longer representing their interests (Photo: Shutterstock, Anas-Mohammed)

Palestinian Authority in Crisis

May 25, 2023 | Update
Screenshot from a tiktok video showing Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets being launched at Israel from amidst civilians in a heavily populated area of Gaza

“Shield and Arrow”: Yet another Gaza conflict

May 12, 2023 | Update

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Israeli tanks in the Sinai Desert, 1973 (Image: Public domain)

From 1973 to Israel’s next war

Image001

The Last Word: Jeremy Jones – In Memoriam

Clinton appreciated Netanyahu’s political skills, but the two were divided over some key policy issues, leading to a tense relationship (Image: Shutterstock)

Essay: Bibi’s seven presidents

Destined to be an iconic landmark: The new National Library of Israel (Image: Herzog & De Meuron/ National Library of Israel/ Twitter)

Biblio File: Unique monument for the “People of the Book”

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (Image: Shutterstock)

Deconstruction Zone: US outreach vs. Iranian aggression

Israeli tanks in the Sinai Desert, 1973 (Image: Public domain)

From 1973 to Israel’s next war

Image001

The Last Word: Jeremy Jones – In Memoriam

Clinton appreciated Netanyahu’s political skills, but the two were divided over some key policy issues, leading to a tense relationship (Image: Shutterstock)

Essay: Bibi’s seven presidents

Destined to be an iconic landmark: The new National Library of Israel (Image: Herzog & De Meuron/ National Library of Israel/ Twitter)

Biblio File: Unique monument for the “People of the Book”

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (Image: Shutterstock)

Deconstruction Zone: US outreach vs. Iranian aggression

SORT BY TOPICS