Kick out firms aiding Israel's genocide from KL expo, Mahathir tells Putrajaya

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Putrajaya must immediately expel companies with links to Israel which are taking part at a defence exhibition organised by the Malaysian government in Kuala Lumpur, saying their presence in the country was an insult to the Palestinian struggle.

"The Malaysian government and the defence ministry must take decisive action and expel these companies from Malaysia immediately.

"Let them know that there is no place in Malaysia for anyone who supports or conspires with Israel to commit genocide against the Palestinians," Mahathir said in response to protests over the participation of companies supplying military equipment to Israel at the Defence Services Exhibition Asia (DSA) and National Security Exhibition (Natsec) Asia.

The Palestine Solidarity Secretariat (SSP) named Lockheed Martin and MBDA (BAE Systems) as well as Aim Point, Colt, L3Harris, Leupold, Shield AI and Leonardo as companies that supply military equipment that is used by Israel in its ongoing campaign in Gaza.

"How can Malaysia, which is vocal in its solidarity with the Palestinians, allow these companies to come here and proudly display their weapons products?" the group asked.

"These are the very people supplying equipment to carry out the genocide, and the genocide is still ongoing to this day."

More than 30,000 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October last year.

Mahathir said that while they had participated in the exhibition in the past, the current situation was exceptional given the genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinians.

"Allowing such companies is a mockery of our efforts to stop the brutality of the Tel Aviv regime. It is tantamount to conspiring with them to shed Palestinian blood, including babies, children and other civilians.

Earlier,  X account #Gegar called on the public to protest at Mindef and demand the cancellation of the participation of companies that have supported Israel in its genocidal campaign in Gaza, singling out Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems as "platinum sponsors".

It also listed a number of local universities participating in the exhibition, including Universiti Malaya, which was recently embroiled in controversy for inviting a pro-Zionist speaker from the US.

Despite the protests, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin welcomed participants to the show.

"The exhibition is not just about new weapons, technologies or capabilities. It is also about collaboration and partnership with the global defence community, which is the process of shaping a better future for defence and security," he wrote on X today.