KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia rejects a bill passed by US congressmen to sanction countries that support Hamas and will monitor its passage through the Senate, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“It is Malaysia’s position to only recognise sanctions that have been decided by the United Nations’ (UN) Security Council, and not unilateral sanctions,” Anwar said of the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, which was passed by the US House of Representatives on November 2.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat during the Prime Minister’s Question Time today, Anwar said the act threatens those who wish to help Palestinians who have long been oppressed by the Israel regime.
He said Malaysia only recognises multilateral sanctions – those decided by the UN – whereas the US was acting alone in deciding sanctions.
Anwar was replying to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN), who asked about Malaysia’s stand on the act.
Anwar said Malaysia would be affected if the Biden administration decided to list the country as one of the governments that is proven to have given material support to Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.
This would also affect US companies with dealings and investments here, he added.
“There is a high chance the US Senate will approve it because many in the US administration are pro-Israel.
“Malaysia will monitor closely and continue to urge the US to show leadership in bringing about peace and respect for international law,” Anwar said.
However, he noted that a similar bill to impose sanctions with respect to “foreign support for Palestinian terrorism” had been passed by the House of Representatives in 2021 but failed to get Senate approval.
According to the Congress.gov website, the act requires the US president to periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person, individual, or entity who knowingly provides “significant support or services” to a senior member or supporter of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The president must also report to Congress the governments that have “repeatedly provided material support” for Hamas, and he can bar these governments “from receiving for one year US assistance or exports of controlled munitions”.
The US Treasury Department is also to instruct US leadership of global financial institutions “to oppose providing assistance to an identified government for one year”.
The act allows for exemptions if they are in the US’ interests.
Anwar also noted that the UN has never classified Hamas as a terrorist entity, even though there are calls by Western countries to do so. – November 7, 2023