KUALA LUMPUR – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has denounced a police investigation against five activists, including party members who held a protest at the recent Defence Service Asia (DSA) and National Security Exhibition (Natsec) Asia exhibitions.
The activists, from the Gegar Amerika movement, had protested the participation of weapons firms which supply arms to Israel in its ongoing war on Palestine.
The five have been summoned by police for their statements at the Sentul police station this afternoon.
“It is hypocritical of the Malaysian government, which is always stating support for Palestinians and opposing Israel’s Zionist regime, to have allowed arms manufacturers who have facilitated the deaths of Palestinians, to promote their weapons in Malaysia,” said a statement by Choo Chon Kai, a member of PSM’s international bureau.
“The investigation against the activists is a waste of police’s time, resources and energy, as police have more important duties. It is also an act of intimidation against a public group.
“We call upon the police to stop the intimidation of Palestine solidarity activists.”
The DSA and Natsec exhibitions were held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here from May 6 to 9.
The government had faced calls from activists, opposition politicians as well as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to drop companies such as Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems from participating, on grounds that these firms supplied arms to Israel in its genocide of Palestinians.
However, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia would not do so as it is a free trade country that does not interfere in global companies’ business dealings with other nations.
Khaled said Malaysia would take into account its stance on Palestine when making arms procurement decisions. – May 21, 2024