KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said displaying the Israeli flag or symbols, including those with Hebrew writing, goes against Malaysia’s long-standing national policy and action should be taken against those responsible.
He said such acts offend the feelings of Malaysians and contradict the country’s firm stance in support of the Palestinian struggle.
“With regard to several incidents involving Hebrew writing that offended the people and against national policy as a whole, this is a stance that cuts across parties. I understand the sentiment,” Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat during Prime Minister’s Question Time today.
“Therefore, according to the nation’s policy, including the display of the Israeli flag, regardless of the purpose, is wrong. I agree that the police should be directed to take appropriate action,” he said.
Anwar said no country would tolerate acts seen as sympathetic to aggressor nations or those responsible for colonial oppression.
“There is no country in the world that would tolerate such acts. Just as during our colonial period, those who raised the Union Jack were regarded as traitors, the same principle applies here.
“Whatever justification may be given, I agree that firm action must be taken as a lesson so that such incidents do not happen again,” he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who asked about the government’s position on the display of Hebrew writing on a vehicle that went viral recently and whether similar action would be taken if the Israeli flag were displayed at a public event.
Mohd Shahar had said the public was angered by the viral video and questioned whether there would be “double standards” if such incidents were allowed to happen.
