Malaysia police arrest man over statements backing diplomatic ties with Israel
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Malaysia is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians and has criticised Israel’s actions in the Gaza war.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police said on Dec 6 they have arrested a 36-year-old man and were conducting a sedition investigation over statements he made suggesting the country should establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians and has criticised Israel’s actions in the Gaza war.
“The statement was made during an interview with an Israeli social media influencer Hananya Naftali that had been uploaded to TikTok,” Mr Mohamad Shuhaily Mohamad Zain, director of the police criminal investigations department, said in a statement.
The investigation is being carried out under the sedition act, communications and multimedia act, and the penal code, he said. The individual, Mr Victor Yong, has been remanded in custody for three days from Dec 6, he added.
A six-minute video clip of the interview between Mr Naftali and Mr Yong, who said he was Malaysian, circulated on social media this week, sparking uproar among local users who said his views did not represent the opinion of other Malaysians.
Checks show that the video of Mr Yong proposing the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Israel was first published online on December 2021, said Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on Dec 6.
“The video is from a YouTube video titled Malaysia And Israel – From Enemies To Allies? The video was created on Dec 17, 2021, not 2023,” he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim joined thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters in Kuala Lumpur in October to condemn Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, and has said he will not bow to Western pressure to reject Hamas. REUTERS
