From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Malaysian government defends presence of companies that supply weapons to Israel at defense show
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Malaysia will not interfere in business relations between arms manufacturers and other countries, its defense minister says, after protesters demanded that the government expel companies that supply weapons to Israel from an international exhibition.
More than 1,300 companies from 60 nations are participating in Defense Services Asia and the concurrent National Security Asia exhibitions that started Monday. The events are hosted and co-organized by Malaysia’s Defense Ministry and Home Affairs Ministry.
The Solidarity for Palestinian coalition held a brief rally outside the exhibition center today to protest the presence of US weapons maker Lockheed Martin, European missile manufacturer MBDA and others that provide arms to Israel. The coalition accused the manufacturers of being complicit in Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
Defense Minister Khaled Nordin says Malaysia opposes all forms of injustice against the Palestinian people but is also a “free trade country.” He says the exhibition is a space for the defense industry to display its latest technology and help countries strengthen their defense preparedness.
“This exhibition does not favor or give advantage to any particular country or company,” Khaled says in a statement. “The relationship of some global defense companies with certain countries is a business matter that Malaysia will not interfere with.”
The Times of Israel Community.