Anwar receives flak over pro-Israel remarks

(Asia News Network) – Umno Youth has questioned Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s statement voicing his apparent support for efforts to protect the security of Israel.

Umno Youth international bureau chief Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid said Anwar’s comments reflected “his efforts to support certain friends who stood firmly behind the Zionist regime.”

He said it was the Palestinians who needed protection and humanitarian aid after being oppressed by Israel.

“Does PKR now agree and support attacks on Gaza based on the policy of protecting Israel’s security?” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Ahmad Zaki, who is also Aman Malaysia chairman, said Anwar’s statement was at odds with the Government and rakyat’s stand, which called for justice and safety for Palestinians.

The opposition leader had told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that he supported “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel”.

In Johor Baru, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Anwar should explain exactly what he meant by protecting Israel’s security during his interview.

“Our country has refrained from establishing relations with Israel because we are disappointed that the peace process has not been settled, and many Palestinians are still suffering,” he said.

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi also slammed any move to support Israel, saying on his Twitter that it was a “betrayal to the faithful”.

Meanwhile in Butterworth, Anwar said his statements had been taken out of context, claiming that some of his remarks were completely omitted.