KUALA LUMPUR: Several protestors have congregated outside the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2024 exhibition here on Tuesday (May 7).

A dozen or so protesters were seen outside the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), to protest the participation of several defence companies that allegedly supplied weapons to the Israeli military.

The gathering, which was overseen by nearby police, went off without incident.

Palestinian Solidarity Secretariat spokesman Tian Chua said today’s gathering was to “express their concerns to the government”.

He added that the country should be more sensitive to the current situation in Palestine.

“You must be consistent with your foreign policy.

“You can’t say that you support Palestine but then contribute to the profits of these companies,” he said.

It was reported that Bersatu had called on the Malaysian government to prohibit two companies allegedly involved in supplying weapons to the Israeli military.

Bersatu international bureau chief Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah expressed his party's concerns over the involvement of the two companies in the event.

In a statement Tuesday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the exhibition did not favour or give advantage to any country or company.

He added that the ministry is aware of protests from certain parties over the involvement of several global defence companies.

"Malaysia is a free trade country, which gives space to all global industry players to market their products and services.

"Thus Malaysia takes an approach not to intervene in matters involving global companies from any country," he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/07/group-gathers-outside-dsa-natsec-2024-venue-to-protest-participation-of-two-companies