THE Hamas International Financing Prevention Act – to sanction those providing aid to Hamas – passed by the US Congress recently will not affect Malaysia’s stance on supporting Palestine, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said Malaysia will not recognise unilateral sanctions, adding that Hamas has never been classified as a terrorist entity or organisation by the United Nations Security Council.

“If the United Nations Security Council classifies an entity as a terrorist organisation, then Malaysia needs to ratify the implementation of the sanctions list. This list of restrictions is supervised by the Home Ministry,” he said.

“The Malaysian government’s stance is only to recognise sanctions classified by the UN Security Council, and not unilateral sanctions.

“Although Malaysia’s stance remains firm in supporting Palestine, if the implementation of this act comes into force, it is expected to have an impact on Malaysia only if the administration of President Joe Biden lists Malaysia as one of the foreign governments that have been proven to have provided material support (financial or relevant material for the continuation of operations) for Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.”

Recently, the US House of Representatives passed the Hamas International Financing Prevention Bill.

This imposes restrictions on external parties supporting Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.

Anwar also said several countries, including Islamic nations, shared Malaysia’s stance, which is to not recognise the US bill.

“We will maintain relations with Hamas and we will not punish them as terrorists,” he said.

Anwar said although Malaysia is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, it will support any country that wants to refer Israel to the International Court of Justice.

“We have to support the Palestinian cause so that Malaysians and the world know that Malaysia unanimously backs Palestine,” he said.

As for the bill passed in the United States, the president will be required to furnish Congress with a list of foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the two groups in Palestine.

If found to be supporting the organisations, the countries will be barred from receiving US assistance or the exports of controlled munitions for one year.

International financial institutions will also be instructed to stop providing assistance to these governments for a year.

The US is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner after China and Singapore. – November 7, 2023.