KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu today questioned Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stance on Israel.

He called for Anwar to state his current stand on Israel, a country that Malaysia has no official diplomatic ties with.

"This question is even more serious considering that Anwar has been named as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidate for prime minister.

"Is he prepared to withdraw his statement and promise Malaysians that we will not compromise with Israel?” questioned Ahmad Faizal in a statement issued today.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president was referring to a 2012 Wall Street Journal report in which Anwar was quoted as saying that he supported all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel.

Anwar also reportedly stopped short of saying that Malaysia should have diplomatic ties with Israel, which he said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians.

During that time, Anwar was criticised by then Palestinian Ambassador Abdelaziz Abhughosh over his statement.

The question surfaced following the recent arrest of two Malaysian couple, suspected of being Mossad agents, for allegedly kidnapping a Palestinian based here. Both were supposedly PKR supporters.

Ahmad Faizal, who is popularly known as Peja, said Anwar should now clarify if his position had changed.

The former Perak MB also challenged Anwar to withdraw his 2012 statement on Israel and promise Malaysians that the country will not compromise with Israel.

"Is he ready to withdraw his statement and promise the people that he will not compromise with Israel?” he asked.

Ahmad Faizal also questioned the position of DAP and PH on Israel’s status as a member of DAP’s national assembly Nga Hock Cheh proposed in 2019 that Malaysia should have diplomatic ties with Israel.

"Both PKR and PH should not remain silent on this important issue involving national security,” said the incumbent Tambun MP.

Ahmad Faizal said the people have a right to know from PH’s leadership the extent of the pro-Israeli elements within the coalition and PKR, and if any action had been taken against such supporters.

In the 2018 general election, Ahmad Faizal, who ran on a PH ticket using the PKR logo, won Tambun in a three-cornered clash against BN and PAS candidates, after garnering 38,661 votes, giving him a majority of 5,320 votes.

On Thursday, Anwar announced that he will be contesting the Tambun seat in GE15.

Malaysia goes to the polls on November 19.