ANKARA – Malaysia on Monday remained defiant reiterating its stand that noperson holding an Israeli passport will be allowed entry in to the country,media reports said.The statement comes days after International Paralympic Committee (IPC)stopped Malaysia from hosting this year’s world championship after it didnot issue visas to athletes from Israel.According to a local media outlet, The Star, Malaysian Youth and SportsMinister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told a news conference that the IPCclaimed that the previous government had agreed to grant visas topara-swimmers of all nationalities including Israelis.“I am a bit wary of what the IPC said. They said that in 2017, there was anunderstanding with the previous government that there were nopre-conditions in other words that Israeli athletes could enter thecountry. I find that strange,” Saddiq said.Malaysia was awarded the right to host the 2019 World Para SwimmingChampionships two years ago.“The stand of the government today under the leadership of (Prime Minister)Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is very clear, the pre-condition is that there canbe no Israeli athletes coming into the country using an Israeli passport,”Saddiq added.The Malaysian minister said that whenever the government of Mahathir willmake “a bid for any sporting event, we would make it known that Israeliathletes would not be allowed into the country”.“We have no diplomatic relations with the Israeli government. That is thestance that we take,” he said.The minister termed the decision by the previous government of allowingIsraeli athletes in the country for the now-canceled championship “wrong”.The championship was scheduled to be held in Kuching, Sarawak, from July 29to August 4. A new venue would be sought for the same dates, although theremay be some flexibility in the light of circumstances, the IPC said. -AA/APP
Despite cancellation of World Championship, Malaysia remains defiant against Israel ban
