Malaysia blocks shipments that support Israel's military

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has announced that the country will not let shipments that help Israel’s military pass through its ports.

He shared this message in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Malaysia’s position is clear and unequivocal,” he said. “We will not allow our country to be used as a conduit for any shipment that supports or contributes to Israel’s military capabilities and its atrocities against Palestinians and other innocent lives.”

“Any suspicious shipment will be subject to inspection and investigation in accordance with Malaysian law. Where a violation is established, decisive action will be taken.”

In mid-August, Malaysian authorities seized three containers headed for Israel at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and have not released them yet.

Bloomberg reported that the three containers held at Malaysia’s Tanjung Pelepas were going to Ashdod Port, which is south of Tel Aviv. These containers had electric bike parts made by a Chinese company, Chongqing Mobimax Technology Co.

This seizure happened a week after another container from the Philippines was detained. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency suspected that this shipment contained weapons because it was destined for Elbit Systems Ltd., an Israeli defense technology company.

The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency is currently looking into this shipment.

In August, Anwar stated that Malaysia would not be a route for trade that could support or contribute to “the cruelty of the Israeli regime.”

Mr Anwar has strongly criticized Israel for its attacks on Gaza, which have resulted in over 73,786 deaths.

At the recent BRICS summit, he called Israel’s actions in Gaza state terrorism.

There is a lot of anti-Israel sentiment in Malaysia. The country does not have diplomatic or trade relations with Israel because of its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Malaysia also bans imports from and exports to Israel under its customs laws.