KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia will not interfere in business relations between arms manufacturers and other countries, its defense minister said Tuesday, after protesters demanded that the government expel companies that supply weapons to Israel from an international exhibition.
The Solidarity for Palestinian coalition held a brief rally outside the exhibition center on Tuesday to protest the presence of U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin, European missile manufacturer MBDA and others that provide arms to Israel. The coalition accused the manufacturers of being complicit in Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
Defense Minister Khaled Nordin said Malaysia opposes all forms of injustice against the Palestinian people but is also a “free trade country.” He said the exhibition is a space for the defense industry to display its latest technology and help countries strengthen their defense preparedness.