Drawing from 2012 interview, Peja presses Anwar to clarify stance on Israel 

KUALA LUMPUR – Incumbent Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has pressed contender Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to explain his stance on the Zionist regime in Israel. 

This comes just two days after Anwar, who is the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition chairman, announced that he will be vying for the Tambun parliamentary seat for the 15th general election (GE15). 

Faizal, who is the caretaker youth and sports minister, questioned whether Anwar still adheres to comments the latter had made during an interview with Wall Street Journal in 2012, in which he had stated his willingness to support efforts geared towards protecting Israel’s security. 

“Does Anwar still stand by his assertion that he would support all attempts to protect the security of Israel from any safety threats?” Faizal, who is also Bersatu deputy president, asked in a statement today. 

“This question becomes even more pressing, since Anwar has been named as PH’s prime ministerial candidate for GE15. 

“Is (Anwar) ready to retract his statement and promise citizens that he will not compromise with Israel?”

Faizal also pointed out that Anwar’s comments had faced the ire of then-Palestinian ambassador Abdelaziz Abhughosh. 

Faizal also shed doubt on PH component party DAP’s position regarding Israel’s status since DAP national assembly member Nga Hock Cheh had reportedly proposed in 2019 that Malaysia open an embassy in Israel.

“Both PKR and PH should not remain silent on this important issue involving national security,” Faizal said. 

Meanwhile, Faizal also stated his concern about the recent arrests of two suspected members of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency over the kidnapping of a Palestinian here. 

Pointing to alleged photos of the duo waving PKR flags that went viral on social media, Faizal said that such allegations have fed into worries that the party and its coalition are “absorbing liberal elements supporting Zionism”. 

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil had denied the rumours on October 19, five days after the couple, along with nine other individuals, were charged with the kidnapping of the Palestine national to solicit information on software to hack mobile phones. 

Faizal, however, said the denial was “defensive and insufficient”. – The Vibes, October 22, 2022