No truth to claims Israeli ship docked at Port Klang, says Anwar

PUTRAJAYA: There is no truth to claims that Israeli cargo ship ZIM Rotterdam docked at Port Klang on April 29, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said the Malaysian government’s stand remains the same - that it does not allow any Israeli ships to dock in the country.

“No. We don’t allow it. The one who allowed (Israeli ships to dock in Malaysia) in 2002 was (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bringing in ZIM.

“Do you remember when Israeli ships entered in 2002? That was Tun Dr Mahathir when he was the prime minister and he didn’t give any reason for that.

“But we cancelled it. I and my Cabinet members have cancelled it because this is our stand, that we will not give permission (for Israeli ships to dock in Malaysia),” he said.

Anwar said this to reporters when met at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here on Tuesday (May 7).

Last week, a local news portal published a report claiming that based on its checks using Marine Traffic, an application which gives real-time information on the movements of ships worldwide, it was found that cargo ship ZIM Rotterdam had docked at Port Klang.

The report also claimed that the Israeli-owned shipping services company had docked in Port Klang on April 29 before departing a day later for China's Port of Shantou.

Also last week, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he had not receive any information on the allegation, saying that an investigation would be conducted while reiterating Malaysia’s firm stand against the Israeli regime.

In December last year, Anwar said Putrajaya has imposed a ban on Israeli shipping company ZIM from docking at any Malaysian port.

Anwar said the Transport Ministry has been tasked with implementing a permanent prohibition on the company.

At the same time, Anwar said Malaysia has also imposed a ban on any ships en route to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports.