KUALA LUMPUR: Meta has once again removed a social media post by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, this time one in which he expressed condolences for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Anwar, in a statement, said it was "unreasonable" to consider a post honouring a fighter who struggled to liberate his homeland from oppression and suffering as dangerous.
"Meta has once again acted disrespectfully and insulted the Palestinian struggle by removing a video post, along with condolences and criticism regarding the killing of the late Ismail Haniyeh.
"Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime!"
Anwar's posts conveying his condolences to Hamas official Dr Basem Naim over Haniyeh's death were removed on Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram.
On Instagram, the content was removed as it had "dangerous individuals and organisations".
Meanwhile, a notification from Facebook said the prime minister's post was removed as it had elements that praised or supported people or organisations that had been defined as dangerous.
"It looks like you shared or sent symbols, praise or support of people and organisations that we define as dangerous, or followed them," said the notification in a screenshot that Anwar shared.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office called on Meta to explain why a post from May, showing Anwar's meeting with the Hamas leader, was taken down.
"We condemn the actions of the Instagram platform provider, Meta, which took down the post of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim meeting with the leader of Hamas in Doha, Qatar, last May.
"This action clearly shows discrimination against the situation in Palestine and the country's leaders," it said, after a post Anwar uploaded in May about his meeting with Haniyeh was removed from the platform.