ISTANBUL

Malaysia said on Tuesday it will not accept unilateral sanctions under the proposed US legislation targeting foreign supporters of Hamas and Palestinian militant groups.

“We do not recognize any unilateral sanction passed by any other country, including the US,” said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur-based Bernama news reported.

“We only recognize decisions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that are considered multilateral,” he added.

The Southeast Asian country is closely watching the bill's progress and suggests that its impact on Malaysia depends on any proven material support for Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Anwar said.

“We do not agree with the decision made by the US and it will not influence our policies and decisions,” Anwar stressed.

Anwar also said he will join the 2023 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Week in the US.

“We do not agree with the United States’ position (on the Israel-Palestine conflict), but it is our priority to maintain diplomatic relations, while not budging from our position on championing justice,” he said on X.

Anwar had recently revealed that Washington issued three diplomatic notices to Kuala Lumpur over Malaysia's stance on Palestine, particularly Hamas.

Malaysia supports the two-state solution to end the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.

The US House of Representatives recently passed the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act – now awaiting a vote in the Senate – which aims to block international funding for these groups.