Ulama Association urges M'sians to continue boycott

The Malaysian Ulama Association (PUM) has urged Malaysians and the global community to continue boycotting companies branded as supportive of Israel.

Its president Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the boycott is more than an economic measure as it represents a moral stand against the ongoing oppression of Palestinians and serves to send a message of solidarity.

“PUM urges Malaysians and the global community to continue supporting the boycott as part of a broader strategy to end the suffering in Gaza and to push for lasting peace.

“Without these efforts, the hardship faced by the people of Gaza would likely intensify, making it imperative that we stand firm in our resolve,” he said in a statement.

The call today was in response to US ambassador Edgard D Kagan who in a recent interview with Malaysiakini questioned the effectiveness of the boycott against companies linked to Israel, particularly concerning its impact on Gaza.

According to Wan Mohamad (above), the situation in Gaza could deteriorate further without the boycott as a critical mechanism to limit the resources available to those enforcing the blockade.

“The statement made by the US ambassador is not only misguided but also reflects a lack of understanding of the profound ethical and moral implications of the boycott.

“Such a stance undermines the global efforts to bring justice to the Palestinians and trivialises the suffering they endure daily,” he said.

Kagan, who reaffirmed the US government’s respect for the right to peaceful protest, said the boycott movement appears to be symbolic with more negative consequences for those employed by the targeted companies.

In response, BDS Malaysia today rejected Kagan’s arguments and countered that framing Israel’s occupation of Palestine as a conflict between two equal sides - with the US doing its utmost as an honest broker to bring a peaceful resolution - has no bearing whatsoever with reality.

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