KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia only recognises sanctions by the United Nations Security Council and not unilateral sanctions by the United States, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this in light of a recently introduced Bill in the US to penalise foreign countries supporting Palestinian group Hamas.
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Anwar also said Malaysia disagreed with the US move to introduce sanctions to countries providing financial and munitions support to Hamas.
“Putrajaya does not recognise the decision of any country to introduce unilateral sanctions, including the US. We only recognise the UN Security Council. We disagree with the US and secondly, it will not affect our policies and decisions,” added Anwar.
Anwar said he spoke to several countries - including Islamic countries- and they all share the same stance of not recognising the US Bill.
“We will maintain relations with Hamas and we will not punish the group as terrorists,” said Anwar.
Anwar said that although Malaysia is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, it will support any countries that want to refer Israel to the International Court of Justice.
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“We have to support the Palestinian cause so that Malaysians and the world know that Malaysia unanimously backs Palestine,” added Anwar
The US is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner after China and Singapore.
US foreign direct investment in Malaysia was US$13.2bil in 2022.
On Nov 1, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction foreign supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movements.
The Hamas International Financing Prevention Act was passed by 363 Congressmen who voted in favour against 46 members against the Bill and it will allow the US to sanction foreign supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movements.
The Bill will require the US President to periodically report to Congress a list of foreign individuals who knowingly provide support or services to a senior member or supporter of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The US President will also be required to furnish Congress with a list of any foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the two groups in Palestine.
If found to be supporting the two Palestinian organisations, the nations will be barred from receiving US assistance or the exports of controlled munitions for one year.
International financial institutions will also be instructed to stop providing assistance to these governments for a year.
