THE rally organisers’ decision to bar protesters from condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden over the Gaza war is not reflective of Putrajaya’s position, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

Saifuddin was referring to Sunday’s pro-Palestinian rally organised by Viva Palestina Malaysia

“Our commitment and our sympathy towards the struggle, no one can dispute it. I believe my friends in the opposition share the same sentiment,” he told parliament today.

“Our stand is very clear on the question of whether we can criticise Benjamin Netanyahu or not. The fact that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinians is an indication that we are against the oppressor.”

People at the rally were not allowed to chant “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) or condemn the Israeli president. Hamas flags were also banned.

The rules led some Malaysians to question the motives of Viva Palestina Malaysia, which is chaired by Musa Nordin.

Viva Palestina Malaysia’s Facebook page was flooded with comments deriding the organiser for the manner in which the protesters were treated.

Many shared pictures of anti-Netanyahu placards that were banned at the protest while others uploaded audio clips of “Allahu Akbar” on the page

Musa said his organisation was merely obeying the police order to refrain from provocative actions.

“(Police) have clear instructions to take action against hate speech, posters, and provocateur agents intent on disrupting our humanitarian gathering,” he said in a statement yesterday. – October 24, 2023.