Malaysia envoy summoned by US over Israel stance

Malaysia envoy summoned by US over Israel stance

The US  State Department summoned the Malaysian ambassador to Washington in order to explain Kuala Lumpur's position on Israel, state news agency Bernama reported.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob told the State Department that the country's longstanding policy of not recognising Israel was not new.

"It has always been Malaysia's policy. Our immigration policy does not recognise the State of Israel or the Zionist regime. This has long been our position," he said. 

"There was an individual with dual citizenship, the U.S. and Israel, who entered Malaysia using his U.S. passport. However, subsequent checks revealed that he also held Israeli citizenship, and we asked him to leave."

This comes after Malaysia prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement last week indicating that authorities will deport any Israeli nationals found in the country.  

Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs opened an investigation into a project called Network School after users on social media alleged that some participants were Israeli citizens with dual nationality who had entered Malaysia using passports from other countries - in violation of Kuala Lumpur's immigration laws. ...