Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today took a swipe at opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for compartmentalising his statement on the Palestinian-Israel issue for different audiences.

“I think when you cannot compartmentalise what you say... to different audiences you say different things.

“You have to be consistent in your stand because whatever you say, even if you say it in Bachok or Taman Tun, it will be reported worldwide,” he told the media during a press conference after officially opening International Construction Week at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this morning.

pas muktamar 130610 nasharuddin mat isa 2Najib was asked about a statement yesterday by PAS Bachok MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa (left) that Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had expressed his disappointment over Anwar’s recent statement in support of Israel’s national security concerns.

According to a report by English daily New Straits Times today, the former PAS deputy president claimed he had recently visited Kuwait and met Haniyeh in his capacity as al-Quds Malaysia Foundation management board chairperson.

“Other Hamas officials expressed the same sentiment and asked me why Anwar had made the statement, which contravened the 1988 fatwa issued by 66 mufti that any action that gave recognition to Israel's existence opposed Islam,” Nasharuddin was quoted as saying.

Anwar had reportedly said in an interview with the Asian Wall Street Journal recently that he supported “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel”.

NONEDuring the press conference, Najib said if Haniyeh had indeed said so, it shows Anwar's statement is a huge disappointment for Palestine and Hamas.

Najib clarified that Malaysian government does not share the view of Anwar.

“As far as Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) know, this is not our stand and they know our position, and they know that Malaysia is very supportive of the Palestinian cause...

“We are very consistent, when I say to international media, I will say the same thing,” he added.

Malaysia does not recognise the existence of Israel.

Nik Aziz: PAS does not recognise 'illegal state' of Israel

Najib also noted that PAS had issued an “ultimatum” for Anwar to either demand the Asian Wall Street Journal to retract and clarify the report or sue the international paper for twisting his statement.

Yesterday, in a hard-hitting statement, PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat stressed the party’s stand of not recognising the “illegal state” of Israel.

The Islamic party, Nik Aziz said, also rejected the resolution to allow two countries to coexist - one for Palestinians and another for Jews.

“I, as the spiritual leader of PAS, with the consent of all syura council members, urge Anwar to retract his statement as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

“If the statement was reported wrongly or carried a different meaning, I, together with all syura council members, advise Anwar to take legal action and sue the Wall Street Journal to clear his name,” he said.