Malaysia tells US it doesn't recognize sanctions by individual nations

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Malaysia has conveyed to the US that Kuala Lumpur does not recognize sanctions imposed by individual nations, a minister said Thursday.

“I emphasized that we will only recognize sanctions if they are imposed by the United Nations Security Council,” the Southeast Asian nation’s Interior Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He was speaking at an event after meeting with the top sanctions official of the US Department of the Treasury, Brian Nelson, Free Malaysia Today news reported.

“The delegation from the US respected our stance,” said the minister.

Nelson is in Malaysia reportedly to discuss issues related to funds being moved to Iran, its proxies, and the funding for the Palestinian resistance group Hamas Malaysian financial system.

Saifuddin added that Kuala Lumpur was committed to combating terrorism financing with a “clear strategic plan in place to tackle illicit funding and money laundering.”

However, Saifuddin said Malaysia’s policies and strategies “comply with international standards.”

The meeting came as the US said it was "trying to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction" where Hamas could both fundraise and then move money.

Washington also said Iran's capacity to move its oil was due to service providers based in Malaysia.

The minister, however, said his meeting with Nelson was “productive” and that Malaysia was “always open to engaging with the US.”