Saifuddin denies making visa statement regarding Israel


PETALING JAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has stressed that he was at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) only as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's delegation.

He denied making any announcement of an exemption for visa requirements to visit Israel as claimed by Israeli parliamentarian Danny Danon and shared by user Kopitiam Malaya on X.

Kopitiam Malaya had uploaded a screenshot of a post by Danon asking if Israel would be a visa-exempt destination from Malaysia.

Danon added that he was glad to see representatives of Malaysia at the UNGA during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"This post (by Kopitiam Malaya)... is to create an evil and slanderous narrative against me and the Malaysian government," Saifuddin said in a statement on Friday (Feb 23).

"My presence in this picture is in my capacity as part of the Malaysian delegation listening to Anwar's speech at the UNGA.

"Israel, don't be triggered.

"During his speech, Anwar clearly criticised Israel's actions in front of everyone," Saifuddin added.

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