Nadine Osman
Malaysian authorities have detained three more containers bound for Israel, weeks after seizing a separate shipment suspected of containing goods intended for an Israeli defence company.
The three containers were detained on August 19 at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor and remain at the port while authorities investigate their contents, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
The containers were destined for Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv, and contained electric bicycle parts shipped by Chinese manufacturer Chongqing Mobimax Technology Co., according to shipping manifests reviewed by Bloomberg. Tracking data showed the cargo remained at Tanjung Pelepas almost a month after it was detained.
The latest seizures follow the detention on August 7 of another Israel-bound container at Tanjung Pelepas after the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said it had acted on intelligence that the shipment was intended for export to Israel.
The agency did not disclose the contents of that container. However, shipping records and information from the campaign No Harbour for Genocide linked the shipment to Israel-based defence company Elbit Systems, which supplies equipment to the Israeli military.
AKPS has said that “any attempt to export goods directly or indirectly to Israel in violation of the law and government directives will face firm action.”
Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has maintained restrictions on trade and shipping involving the country. In December 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Israeli-flagged ships would be barred from Malaysian ports and that ships heading to Israel would be prohibited from loading cargo in Malaysia.
Anwar has repeatedly stressed Malaysia’s position on Israel and the war in Gaza. “Malaysia will continue to uphold the principles of humanity, justice and international law in defending the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people,” he said.
The latest detentions come amid increased scrutiny of Israel-bound cargo passing through Malaysian ports.
In early September, the Malaysian chapter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement said it had identified 71 containers carrying cargo destined for Israel heading to Tanjung Pelepas. It called on the government to prevent Malaysian ports from being used to facilitate shipments to Israel.
BDS Malaysia said the seizure of the shipment linked to Elbit Systems demonstrated that authorities could prevent such cargo from passing through Malaysian ports, arguing that “enforcement is possible when there is political will”.
The group has urged the government to introduce broader measures to prevent Israel-bound vessels and cargo from using Malaysian ports.
