BAGAN DATUK: The government has ordered Johor Port Bhd and the Customs Department to immediately investigate claims that a ship belonging to Israeli shipping company Zim had docked at a port in Iskandar Puteri.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia was firm in its stance of not allowing ships belonging to Israeli companies docking privileges in the country, let alone to conduct business here.
He said detailed investigations needed to be conducted, including whether this went through a third party.
"We are very much firm on this policy. First of all, we do not have diplomatic relations with Israel and we don't have any trade agreements with them.
"If there are Israeli goods at any port in Malaysia brought in through a third party, then we need to monitor this.
"Johor Port and Customs must act on this immediately as this sort of thing is not just about trade, but about how such strict regulations have been flouted (if it is true)," he said.
Zahid was speaking to reporters after opening the Bagan Datuk police headquarters near Hutan Melintang.
Present were Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri and Bagan Datuk police chief Superintendent Mohammad Ali Mohd Jali.
Yesterday, Kota Iskandar assemblyman Datuk Pandak Ahmad had said he was shocked to receive reports from constituents that there was a container belonging to Zim at the port.
He had urged the authorities and the government to investigate the allegations to ascertain if they were true.
Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, said the results of the investigation should be reported to the government as soon as possible.
"Whether they (the allegations) are true or not, it must be forwarded as soon as possible," he said.
This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced of late.
Early last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had denied that Israeli company-owned ships were allowed to dock in Malaysia, saying it was the government's firm stand to bar such ships entry.