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FORMER US Treasury Department analyst Jonathan Schanzer (pic) has come under fire after claiming that Malaysia has long served as a base of operations for Hamas, while also accusing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of lacking interest in peace.
In a widely circulated post on social media platform X, Schanzer wrote: “Malaysia has long hosted Hamas operatives. Its prime minister has no interest in peace.”
The remark, posted in response to Anwar’s recent statements reaffirming Malaysia’s support for Palestine, quickly drew criticism from Malaysian social media users.
Anwar had earlier called for the severing of diplomatic ties with Israel, citing the ongoing destruction in Gaza and illegal land seizures in the West Bank.
Schanzer, who is currently Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington-based think tank, faced a wave of backlash from Malaysian users online.
His post has garnered nearly one million views, with the majority of responses coming from Malaysians defending their government's pro-Palestine stance.
Reacting to the online response, Schanzer commented in a separate post: “Nearly a million views. Almost entirely trolls from Malaysia. The replies are rather funny and in some cases extreme.”
The exchange has further intensified debates over Malaysia’s foreign policy in the Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of Western commentators in shaping regional narratives.
Neither the Malaysian government nor Prime Minister Anwar has issued an official response to Schanzer’s remarks at the time of reporting. - September 21, 2025