PKR group blasts Mukhriz over trade ties with Israel

(Harakah Daily) – PKR-linked pressure group Jingga 13 has hit out at deputy minister of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir for claiming that Malaysia and Israel does not have diplomatic ties, yet allowing trade between Malaysian companies with Israelis.

In his statement, Jingga 13 coordinator Fariz Musa how no diplomatic interaction could have taken place when at the same time Malaysian and Israeli companies had been involved in large scale trade activities with each other, as has been revealed by documents showing the use of West Port in Port Klang by Israeli cargo vessels.

“The UMNO-BN government has the power to decide on the arrival of (Israeli) ships as well as trade and business affairs with Israel. The UMNO-BN government can decide whether to allow or disallow these ships from docking at any Malaysian ports including in Sabah and Sarawak,” Fariz said, as he challenged Mukhriz to prove the absence of ties with officials of the Zionist regime.

Fariz added that the rule which bans Israeli passport holders from entering the country was a non-issue, and said it was meaningless if Malaysia and Israel engage in trade ties.

Mukhriz had earlier admitted that the government did not ban trade between private Malaysian companies and their counterparts in Israel, insisting that it did not mean the government had diplomatic ties with Israel.

“The existing trading is the operation of the private sectors from both countries and the Malaysian government does not prohibit it,” he said.

However, Fariz described Mukhriz’s explanation as hilarious. “It is as if he was appointed to his current post to continue the legacy of his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad in having ties (with Israel),” he added.

Last year, a report on Europe-Israel trade ties published by the EU’s European Commission of Trade placed Malaysia at the 24th spot in a list of 50 countries in their value of import trades with Israel. It also placed the country at the 11th position for export and an overall 15th for trade with Israel.

“The revelation of this document clearly shows we have trade ties with Zionist Israel,” said DAP member of parliament Er Teck Hwa in criticising the Malaysian government’s doublespeak on the Middle East conflict.

Earlier in October, Youth and Sports minister Shabery Cheek personally intervened to allow an Israeli kickboxer into the country, despite immigration regulations prohibitng those carrying Israeli passports.

Shabery later accused the Selangor state government of approving the Israeli participation, drawing a strong denial from Selangor’s tourism exco Elizabeth Wong who pointed out that immigration matters were under the Federal government.