PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is demanding an apology and explanation from Meta Platforms for removing posts on Instagram related to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s meeting with Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar in May.
According to the Media and Strategic Communications Department under the PMO, the removal of the post from Instagram reflects discrimination towards Palestinians and their leaders.
"We will demand an apology on this matter and we urge Meta Platforms to apologise," said the PMO in a brief statement on Wednesday (July 31).
In several screenshots shared by PMO, it mentioned that the July 30 post was removed by Instagram, citing reasons that it allegedly contained symbols, praises or support of people and organisations defined by Instagram as "dangerous."
In the July 30 post, the PMO highlighted Anwar’s meeting with Hamas leaders in May, where he met the late Hamas chief Ismail Haniyah, who was later assassinated in Iran on Wednesday (July 31).
In May, Facebook had also removed several posts related to media reports of Anwar’s publicised meeting with Ismail in Qatar.
In October last year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had warned that stern action could be taken against Meta and TikTok if they were found to be blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms.
