LENGGONG: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail described his meeting with Brian Nelson, the US Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and his delegation on May 9 as a transparent and fact-based discussion.
Saifuddin said his side listened to Nelson's presentation regarding the alleged flow of funds to Iran and its proxy, Hamas, through Malaysia's financial system, and considered it as one-sided information.
"We listen to (what was said) as information coming from one side because he (Nelson) said it happened in our country. We also have intelligence forces, such as the National Security Council , the Research and Development Division of the Prime Minister's Department, as well as police and military intelligence.
"My response to Nelson was that I take note of his information, whether on behalf of an individual, company, or organisation, and it is reasonable for us to investigate the matter first. That is what I explained to him.
"Most importantly, the meeting was transparent and based on facts. We appreciate that Malaysia and the US have a long history of cooperation in diplomatic, trade, and economic relations, as well as security cooperation," Saifuddin told a press conference after the launch of Kampung Beng, as the ministry's Kampung Angkat Madani today.
Saifuddin was asked whether the explanation to the representative of the US government as reported by the media recently was received well or otherwise.
Regarding the issue of a unilateral sanction following the action of the US to prevent Iran from selling oil or using Malaysia's financial system, Saifuddin said the government, which was relayed to the US representative was that Malaysia is an independent, sovereign country with its own rule of law.
"Only sanction orders issued by the United Nations (UN) Security Council will be recognised in our country. If there is any attempt to impose a restriction order based on one-sided information, then our government policy does not adopt such restriction orders.
"He (Nelson) mentioned several things during the meeting. He can mention or present any thing, and it is our responsibility to give our view and stance in relation to that."
On Thursday, Nelson told selected Malaysian media that US believes that waters off Malaysia and in the region are being used as a point for Iranian oil to be sold to buyers to escape the US sanctions on Iran.
He had said the US had been monitoring ship-to-ship oil transfers in Malaysian waters.
He also said his visit to the Southeast Asian region from May 6 to 9 had revolved around two key priority issues, namely disrupting Russia's ability to sustain its war in Ukraine as well as countering terrorist financing by Iran and its proxies.