Mukhriz: Malaysian firms can trade with Israeli companies

International Trade and Industry deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir has reiterated that the government does not ban trade between private Malaysian companies and their counterparts in Israel.

Ships owned by Israel are also allowed to dock at Malaysian ports for trading purposes, on condition that Israeli nationals are prohibited from landing, Mukhriz said.

He was responding to claims by PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 that ships belonging to a company once owned by the Israeli government have had free access to Port Klang’s West Port.

Documentation revealed by the NGO showed that the ship Zim Atlantic, which had docked at Port Klang on Feb 16, had come directly from the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Mukhriz said the opposition has been trying to manipulate the issue to create misunderstanding of the fact that Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

"No diplomatic relations means no interaction between the two governments. The existing trading is the operation of the private sectors from both countries and the Malaysian government does not prohibit it,” he reportedly told Malay daily Sinar Harian in a text message.

"Statements by BN representatives that often say there is no diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Israel are deliberately twisted by Pakatan."

‘Ploy to divert attention’

According to Mukhriz, the opposition has repeatedly raised the issue to divert attention from PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's statement advocating Israel's security.

"The BN government does not recognise Israel as a sovereign country. This is far from Anwar's statement that defends the stand to ensure Israel's security, which means he recognises Israel as a nation," he added.

Anwar had been under fire for saying in an interview with the Wall Street Journalthat he supports efforts to safeguard Israel's security.

This morning, Anwar explained to PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that his stand on Israel was consistent with that of the Palestinian political factions Hamas and Fatah.