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MALAYSIA’S longstanding humanitarian concern for the Palestinian people may have been misinterpreted by certain quarters, the country’s police chief has said, in response to recent foreign accusations linking Malaysia to Hamas operations.
Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, said that while Malaysia’s support for the Palestinian cause is grounded in compassion and religious solidarity, the country maintains strict border security and close cooperation with its regional and international partners.
“Some parties may have misunderstood the empathy shown by Malaysians,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman on Wednesday.
“We are a Muslim-majority country, and the Palestinian struggle is close to the hearts of our people. The assistance extended is based on humanitarian principles.”
He added that Malaysia continues to maintain constructive relations with countries including the United States and regularly exchanges intelligence to pre-empt security threats.
“We collaborate and share information with our partners to ensure early action can be taken when needed,” he said.
His remarks followed recent claims by Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst with the US Department of the Treasury, who alleged on social media that Malaysia had long served as an operational base for Hamas.
Schanzer also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being uninterested in peace efforts — comments that surfaced after Anwar publicly reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for Palestine and urged global disengagement with Israel due to ongoing violence in Gaza and land seizures in the West Bank.
Mohd Khalid said Malaysian authorities remain vigilant against any exploitation of national solidarity for unlawful purposes.
“Alhamdulillah, we have strong working relationships with key agencies such as the Immigration Department, Customs Department, and the Malaysian Border Security Agency (AKSEM),” he said.
He pointed to recent successful cross-border enforcement operations, including joint efforts with Thailand to intercept arms smuggling networks in the Sadao region.
“We exchange intelligence and work closely with neighbouring authorities. Our preparedness is evident.”
He stressed that Malaysia will not tolerate any form of terrorism, arms trafficking, or transnational crime.
“National security remains under control. We are committed to strengthening cooperation with regional partners to ensure no group uses this country as a base for illicit operations,” he said. - September 24, 2025