Malaysia dismisses calls to remove defence firms that supply weapons to Israel from KL exhibitions
Pro-Palestinian voices include former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who said the companies Lockheed Martin and MBDA should be ordered to leave.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre) at the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2024. (Photo: Facebook/Anwar Ibrahim)
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SINGAPORE: Malaysia has dismissed calls by pro-Palestinian groups and some politicians to remove foreign firms that supply weapons to Israel from government-backed defence exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur.
The relationship of some global defence companies with certain countries is a “business matter that Malaysia will not interfere with”, said Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin on Tuesday (May 7).
Malaysia is a “free trade country that gives space to all global industry players to market their products and services in Malaysia”, he said in a statement on Facebook.
Mr Khaled was responding to calls for Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace and defence company, and BAE Systems, a British aerospace and weapons firm, to be barred from the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2024 exhibitions, which run from Monday to Thursday.
Lockheed Martin has supplied F-35 fighter jets to Israel, while BAE Systems supplies parts for the F-35 jets.
Israel waged war in Gaza on the militant group Hamas after the latter attacked and killed over 1,200 people in Israel and took about 250 people hostage on Oct 7 last year. Israeli forces have killed over 34,000 people in Gaza so far, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been vocal on the Gaza conflict and highlighted “atrocities” against Palestinians on the international stage.
Malaysians have also boycotted companies linked to the United States that are perceived to have supported Israel’s war. For instance, over 100 outlets of fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Malaysia have been “temporarily closed” amid a months-long boycott linked to the conflict in Gaza.
OPPOSITION VOICES
Critics of the presence of defence firms supplying arms to Israel include former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and the Palestine Solidarity Secretariat, a coalition of political parties and civil society groups, according to Malaysian media reports.
The Palestine Solidarity Secretariat said the government must explain the participation of companies such as Lockheed Martin, MBDA (part-owned by BAE Systems), Aimpoint, Colt, L3Harris, Leupold, Shield AI and Leonardo.
"These are the very people supplying equipment to carry out the genocide, and the genocide is still ongoing to this day," it stated.
"It's time for the government to show that its support for Palestine is not mere rhetoric."
Dr Mahathir acknowledged Lockheed and BAE Systems have participated in previous editions of the exhibitions, but said “the situation this time is extraordinary”. The government should order the firms to leave, he said.
Mr Khaled said that the defence exhibitions are organised by private parties.
DSA Exhibition and Conference Sdn Bhd is the organiser, according to the exhibitions’ website. It lists the home affairs and defence ministries as hosts, supporters and co-organisers. Mr Anwar opened the exhibitions on Monday.
The exhibitions do not favour any particular country or company, and also feature a “large participation from Islamic countries” such as Turkiye, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, added Mr Khaled.
On Malaysia’s defence procurement policy, Mr Khaled said it takes into account latest technological advances, the country’s strategic needs, cost-effectiveness, national interests and Malaysia’s “global political stance”.
The defence ministry has “always consistently supported the national policy against all forms of injustice against the Palestinian state”, he said.
