IPOH: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that a vote for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election would be a vote to support Israel.
He was commenting on a report, last month, by the The Wall Street Journal, which had quoted the opposition leader saying he supported "all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel".
Khairy said that Anwar's statement clearly indicated his support for Israel.
"Anwar can give whatever reasons he wants when he meets with PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to explain the matter," he told reporters after chairing an Umno Youth executive committee meeting, here, yesterday.
"Muslims in Malaysia hold the Palestinian plight close to their hearts and I am sure they are somehow impacted by Anwar's statement, reported in the WSJ," he said.
He said said that the youth wing would conduct roadshows nationwide to explain the actual situation to the people.
Khairy also condemned the opposition leader who he claims is presently shifting the blame to the government by saying the government had forged ties with Israel.
"No doubt we have ties with Israel but they only involve trade ties between companies. We do not have any political or diplomatic ties whatsoever," Khairy said.
"Anwar can't plead ignorance now. When he was the deputy prime minister and finance minister in 1996, the cabinet had relaxed the Customs Act, under the Finance Ministry, to allow for trade ties between Malaysia and Israel."
Earlier, Khairy said that he was satisfied with the preparations by the Perak Umno Youth's election machinery for the coming general election.
He also said many programmes, organised by the wing recently had managed to attract young voters.
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