NGOs back PKR condemnation of Maybank-Microsoft partnership

A coalition of pro-Palestine NGOs has expressed support for PKR International Bureau’s condemnation of a newly announced partnership between Maybank and Microsoft, and urged the Malaysian government to terminate the venture.

In a joint statement, 26 NGOs, including BDS and Mercy Malaysia, backed the bureau’s statement, which was shared on Facebook by former education minister Maszlee Malik.

“We express our unreserved support for the stance adopted by PKR’s International Bureau and appreciate its uncompromising and principled decision in openly voicing its objection despite being part of a party in the governing coalition.

“We strongly urge the Malaysian government to respond to the bureau’s statement by doing the right thing, which is to intervene to terminate the above venture by Maybank. The bank, after all, is a GLC (government-linked company).

“Microsoft is just one among the companies named by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine in a June 30 report as profiting from genocide.

“Caterpillar, AWS, Google, and BlackRock are also on that list of infamy with whom the Malaysian government has links or contracts,” the NGOs said today.

On Aug 6, the PKR International Bureau announced that it strongly rejects Maybank’s decision to pursue a digital partnership with Microsoft, a company it describes as complicit in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The partnership, it emphasised, is “not only unethical, but also tainting Maybank’s reputation as a Malaysian financial institution” since Microsoft has been identified as supplying technology to the Israeli regime, including AI used for military and surveillance operations.

The bureau urged Maybank to re-evaluate and immediately suspend the partnership, and for a public explanation on whether a human rights risk assessment was conducted before the partnership was decided.

It also urged that Maybank, as a national institution, should prioritise ethics and humanity in its operations, in line with sentiments shared by the majority of Malaysians who reject the oppression of Palestinians.

On Aug 5, Bernama reported that Maybank has entered a five-year partnership worth RM1 billion with Microsoft to accelerate its digital transformation.

Maybank announced that the company will be adopting Microsoft Azure as one of its main cloud platforms for its most strategic systems, functions, and data workloads.

The partnership also plans to explore the establishment of a collaboration centre to develop cloud and AI-powered innovation.

Suspend trade and investment, freeze assets

Previously, BDS Malaysia urged the government to take the report of the UN special rapporteur seriously, calling upon all UN member states to suspend or prevent trade agreements and investment relations, and impose sanctions, including asset freezes, on entities and individuals involved in activities that may endanger Palestinians.

The group highlighted that many companies listed in the UN report, including Microsoft, currently have or were awarded contracts with the Malaysian government.

Alongside BDS, today’s joint statement was also endorsed by Abim, Kesatuan Ulama Muslimin Sedunia, MyCare, ACCIN, Mahar, Pertubuhan Mawaddah Malaysia, GSPP, Palestine Forum Malaysia, Persatuan Akademia Ikram Malaysia, Pertubuhan Agenda Wanita Malaysia (Agenda), and Al-Quds Foundation Malaysia.

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