Pro-Palestine protests spill over to Malaysian petrol stations, Apple Store as Trump visit nears

KUALA LUMPUR – The glitzy InterContinental Kuala Lumpur hotel in Jalan Ampang in the capital is used to hosting international delegates. Since Sept 23, it has welcomed the 14th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference co-hosted by the US Army – an event that drew dozens of pro-Palestine protesters to its doors on Sept 26.

Holding a banner that read “US Troops GTFO”, protesters chanted “Free Palestine” to the beat of a drum as they marched under the midday heat towards the US Embassy.

Pro-Gaza street protests such as the one on Sept 26 are common after Friday prayers, where organisers can easily find a massive and willing audience of Muslim men. But in recent weeks, these demonstrations have spilled over into more public spaces such as shopping malls, petrol stations and US-linked stores.

The shift in mood has been propelled by support for Palestine going mainstream, but also continued frustration over the perceived complicity of some multinationals. With US President Donald Trump due to visit Kuala Lumpur during the Asean summit in October, anger may yet boil over, with a major anti-US rally planned for the event.

Earlier in the day, a cardboard cut-out of Mr Trump hanging upside down was spotted at a pedestrian bridge near the US Embassy. Photos of the display quickly went viral on Malaysian social media, drawing both support and criticism for the stunt.

“The right to protest is our right, and we do not want Trump here,” said Mr Fedya, one of the demonstrators at the hotel, who declined to give his full name. He stressed that the group was not breaking any laws, as the right to assemble peacefully is embedded in the Federal Constitution.

As emotions run high, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has to navigate between a Muslim-majority population that expects solidarity with Gaza and international partners who want amicable diplomatic conduct.

Observers have, however, noted that international ties with Washington are unlikely to be seriously tested, especially as Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail has vowed that the force will be keeping watch. 

“We are conducting surveillance and patrolling from time to time,” he told The Straits Times.

This evolution in protest strategy was most recently seen when hundreds queued to get their hands on Apple’s new iPhone 17 at the tech giant’s flagship store in The Exchange TRX mall.

Youth collective Anti-Imperialist Coalition Movement (Gegar) shared a clip showing several activists holding a flash mob at the Apple Store. They sang “Do You Hear The People Sing?” from the musical Les Miserables, while holding a banner that read: “Apple Kills Palestine and Congo. Boycott iPhone 17.”

Besides Apple, which is frequently targeted due to its alleged technology investments in Israel, Chevron-owned petrol chain Caltex has also faced pressure in Malaysia after activists highlighted its business links with Israel.

BDS Malaysia, the country’s leading campaigner for the global boycott, divest and sanction movement, denied involvement in the protest at the Apple Store. But it acknowledged that the protests have become more targeted.

“The key criterion is complicity with Israeli crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine,” said its chairman Mohd Nazari Ismail, who is the director of the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Malaya.

At least seven Malaysian activist groups, including Gegar, announced on Sept 23 that a major rally is planned on Oct 26, during Mr Trump’s visit.

Palestine Solidarity Secretariat (SSP), which previously organised events such as a five-day picket in front of the US Embassy in December 2023, said it will also participate.

Mr Tian Chua, a former lawmaker and long-time activist who is also an SSP spokesman, said a large turnout would demonstrate to the world that Malaysians reject Washington’s support for Israel. 

“This will prove that Malaysia is a mature democratic nation where civil society has the freedom to express itself,” he said.

Malaysia has witnessed more than 20 Gaza-related demonstrations in the past two months.

On Sept 18 and 23, activists protested outside the UN office in Putrajaya, submitting a memorandum urging the UN General Assembly to act where the UN Security Council has failed, including allowing humanitarian aid into Palestine. Protesters also gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s Office and near an air force base in Selangor on Sept 24, pressing Datuk Seri Anwar to retract the invitation to Mr Trump.

More rallies have also been staged at public places such as Caltex petrol stations in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang. There, protesters urged motorists to avoid the brand over alleged Israeli ties. More protests are expected to be held at Caltex outlets nationwide, BDS said.

These public protests and Mr Anwar’s support for the Palestinian cause have drawn ire from Washington-linked commentators. Former US Treasury counter-terrorism analyst Jonathan Schanzer claimed on Sept 18 on X that Malaysia had become a hub for Hamas operations, prompting a rebuke from Mr Khalid.

“There are also foreign students from countries such as Palestine and Syria studying at local institutions of higher learning here. Our people’s compassion could have been misunderstood by some parties,” Mr Khalid told the media.

Mr Anwar has likewise defended Malaysia’s stance, stressing that its support is rooted in humanitarian solidarity and political advocacy, not militancy.

He has kept direct engagement with Washington. In a recent phone call with Mr Trump, he stressed Malaysia’s commitment as Asean chair to ensuring regional peace and stability, adding that Kuala Lumpur looks forward to hosting him at the summit, a platform to strengthen cooperation.

Mr Anwar also hosted US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Putrajaya on Sept 25 as the latter dropped by Kuala Lumpur for the 57th Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting. In October, both Mr Anwar and Mr Trump are set to witness a reciprocal trade agreement between the two countries, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said on Sept 26.

Former Malaysian ambassador Ilango Karuppannan said the wave of protests has a small probability of shifting Washington’s policy, but could place Malaysia in a delicate position as the summit host.

“Large rallies could draw international attention and put added pressure on Malaysia. Washington will be watching how the authorities manage the gatherings, and even a small incident could be amplified in the media,” he told ST.

But political analyst and geostrategist Azmi Hassan downplayed the demonstrations, saying they are unlikely to overshadow Mr Trump’s visit. 

“The protests here are not as big as those abroad. What matters at the Asean meeting is the discussions held behind closed doors,” he said, adding that Malaysia’s relations with the US remain cordial as part of international diplomacy.

Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel, and has long positioned itself as one of the most vocal Muslim-majority nations defending the Palestinian cause. Since the 1980s, successive governments have consistently backed Palestinian statehood, barred Israeli passport holders and supported aid missions to Gaza.

Mr Anwar has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as ethnic cleansing, and his government regularly raises the issue at the UN.

With anger spilling into shopping districts and global brands now in activists’ crosshairs, Malaysia’s government faces a test in the coming weeks: Allowing civil society the space to express outrage, while ensuring the Asean summit and Mr Trump’s visit proceed without disruption, Mr Ilango said.