Malaysia Defends Inclusion of Arms Suppliers Amid Protests at Defense Exhibition

The Malaysian government defended its decision to include companies supplying weapons to Israel at the Defense Services Asia and National Security Asia shows. The exhibitions feature over 1,300 companies from 60 countries, including U.S. arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin and European missile producer MBDA.

This news comes following protests by a Palestinian solidarity group, which criticized the participation of these companies. It argued that their presence contradicted Malaysia’s support for Palestine and was insensitive to Malaysians opposing Israel’s actions.

The coalition spokesperson, Tian Chua, urged the government to ban companies that supply weapons to Israel, calling their participation inconsistent with Malysia’s stance. However, Defense Minister Khaled Nordin emphasized that Malaysia opposes injustice against Palestinians while maintaining its status as a “free trade country.”

Nordin stated that the exhibition aims to showcase the latest defense technologies without favoring any nation or company. Nordin also pointed out that numerous Islamic countries, including Turkey, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, are participating in the event. 

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad joined the call for expelling arms suppliers to Israel but was met with resistance. 

For more information, read the full article on AP News.