Malaysia envoy summoned by US over Israel policy, Bernama says
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States has been summoned by the U.S. State Department to explain Kuala Lumpur’s stance on Israel, state media reported, citing the country’s foreign minister.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Malaysia’s long-standing policy of not recognizing Israel is not new.
“This has always been Malaysia’s policy. Our immigration policy does not recognize the State of Israel or the Zionist regime. This has been our position for a long time.”
Bernama quoted Mohamad as saying late on Thursday: “There was a person who had dual citizenship, US and Israeli, and entered Malaysia using his US passport. However, subsequent checks revealed that he also had Israeli citizenship and we asked him to leave.”
Reuters requested comment from the US embassy in Malaysia.
The controversy was triggered after Network School, a “digital nomad” community in Malaysia founded by US investor Balaji Srinivasan, came under scrutiny after social media users claimed it included participants from Israel.
Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and is known to be a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.
An immigration investigation into the Network School followed and authorities found that all participants had valid travel documents. But it was finally closed by authorities on Tuesday.
Eight U.S. congressmen later sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing outrage over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to track down and immediately deport Israeli citizens in Malaysia.
They called on the State Department to review U.S. security and economic ties with Malaysia.
They also called on the State Department to cut funding for the International Military Education and Training program, which provides professional training in the United States to Malaysian military personnel, unless the decision is reversed within 15 days.
(Reporting by Ashley Tang; Editing by David Stanway)
