KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called out previous administrations which allowed Israeli shipping firm ZIM and other Israeli ships to dock and unload cargo but were now condemning the government over the issue.
He said the struggle against injustice, aggression, colonialism must be consistent and well understood instead of being turned into a political game.
Pointing out how the government had dealt with ZIM recently, Anwar said: "Sometimes we get swayed by sweet slogans that use the Palestinian issue for political gains. I want to state here that it is impossible for anyone with a conscience to allow lives to be lost and destruction to occur daily and let this issue become a political game.
"Those who criticise us regarding trade with any company must answer why they allowed direct trade with Zim and other Israeli companies when they were in power. That, in my view, is the fundamental issue that needs to be addressed.
"Those who are the most vocal against Israeli oppression allowed direct trade with Israeli companies.
"That is why, under the Madani government, we discussed this in the cabinet, and a unanimous decision was made to stop all forms of direct trade (with Israel)," he said in his keynote speech at the nationwide mosque muktamar for Al-Aqsa and Palestine.
On Dec 20, 2023, the Transport Ministry confirmed that a ship operated by Zim, which was scheduled to dock in Port Klang on Dec 26, had been prohibited from doing so.
The Transport Ministry later said ZIM must manage its own 4,000 containers stranded in Port Klang.
Anwar said he made no apologies for trade with companies that had ties with Israel as Malaysia also needs to strengthen its economic base.
Malaysia, he said, had communicated this to the Palestinians and other friends in the Arab World.
"I state that if we want to rise and draw lessons from Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi's experience as a strong nation, we must use wisdom, know our strengths and rights, and use this opportunity to build internal strength, not just oppose recklessly, which could weaken our cultural heritage," he said.
Anwar also criticised the actions of a few irresponsible individuals who questioned the government's efforts to treat injured Palestinians in Malaysia.
"During the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak yesterday, I felt compelled to respond to a remark made by someone who is not from the ruling group.
"This scholar said that if we bring the Palestinian people (to this country), they should not set foot in Sarawak. This is the most rude and inhumane view.
"Fortunately, this is a small voice, but if we allow it to continue, it will grow and become cancerous.
"Whatever extreme views, we must not let them persist," he said.
Anwar said he had equal concern for the suffering of every citizen regardless of one's religion or race.
On Aug 16, two aircraft carrying 127 injured Palestinian civilians landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Air Base.
They were transported by two RMAF Airbus A400M airlifters, which flew from the Al Maza Air Base in Egypt, to receive treatment for wounds sustained during Israel's brutal assault on Gaza.