Malaysia imposes docking ban on Israeli ships, vessels heading to the country

PETALING JAYA: Ships from an Israeli shipping cargo company as well as those en route to the country or those hoisting the country’s flag will be restricted from docking at Malaysian ports with immediate effect, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"The Malaysian government has decided to bar and restrict Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd, which is a shipping company based in Israel, from docking in any Malaysian port," the Prime Minister said in a statement Wednesday (Dec 20).

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Zim is a publicly held Israeli international cargo shipping corporation and the Cabinet had allowed ships from this company to dock in Malaysia from 2002 onwards.

"In 2005, the Cabinet decided to permit the ship to dock in Malaysia," he said.

However, the current government decided to cancel the decisions of the former administration.

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Anwar said the Transport Ministry would take immediate action by imposing a permanent ban against this company.

This ban would come into immediate effect.

In addition, any ships hoisting the Israeli flag would also not be allowed to dock in Malaysia.

"Aside from that, Malaysia will also prohibit any ships on the way to Israel from unloading cargo in Malaysia ports. Both of these bans come into effect immediately," he said.

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He said this is in response to Israel’s action, where the country had gone against international laws and ignored humanitarian principles through its continuous atrocities against Palestinians.

Anwar said Malaysia was confident that the move would not have any effect on Malaysian trade.