Malaysia Rejects Unilateral Sanctions in Response to Proposed U.S. Law
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia announced on Tuesday that it will not acknowledge unilateral sanctions imposed by any country, in response to a proposed U.S. law seeking to impose sanctions on foreign backers of Hamas and other militant groups operating in Palestine.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, which aims to sever international funding to these groups. The bill is now awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that his government is closely monitoring the progress of the bill, emphasizing that it will only affect Malaysia if it is proven to provide material support to Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In a written response to parliament, Anwar highlighted the potential repercussions of any sanctions against Malaysia. He expressed concerns about the impact on the U.S. government’s assessment of Malaysia, as well as the investment opportunities for American companies in the country.
As a Muslim-majority nation, Malaysia has consistently been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause and has called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Past records show that top Hamas leaders have frequently visited Malaysia and held meetings with its leaders.
Anwar has previously rejected Western pressure to denounce Hamas, asserting that the U.S. has expressed reservations about Malaysia’s position on Palestine.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
