BDS movement faces challenges despite pro-Palestinian stance - Chairman

KUALA LUMPUR - Contrary to assumptions that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is flourishing in Malaysia because of its pro-Palestine stance, the reality reveals a less successful situation.

BDS chairman Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail explained that while some might assume that the BDS movement in Malaysia was thriving due to the nation's pro-Palestine stance, the reality is far less successful.

He added that major boycott targets like Caterpillar, HP and BlackRock continue to operate in Malaysia, highlighting the limited impact of BDS efforts to date.

“Caterpillar, for instance, supplies bulldozers to the Israeli military, equipment that has been used in incidents of destruction and violence against Palestinians.

“Despite BDS activists’ attempts to protest Caterpillar's Malaysian distributor, their actions resulted only in police questioning. Similar challenges are seen with other companies; HP still secures contracts from Malaysian government departments largely unaware of its ties to Israel.

“BlackRock, which owns shares in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), is also a known supporter of the Israeli government but continues to be welcomed for its economic contributions,” he said at the Conference on Palestine: Exploring Asian Perspective held at Universiti Malaya on Monday.

Nazari emphasised that the lack of success indicated Malaysia’s preference for economic stability over a strong commitment to Palestinian justice.

He added that severing economic ties with American companies could be perceived as politically risky, as it might adversely impact the nation’s economy and governmental stability and prompt regional leaders to recognise that an economic downturn could lead to public discontent and threaten their political standing.

“Meanwhile, the more promising BDS efforts appear to come from the West, where a strong sense of justice among the youth is driving large-scale demonstrations in cities like London.

“These young activists are willing to make substantial personal sacrifices, such as a PhD student at Columbia University who prioritised the Palestinian cause when he was threatened to be kicked out from his programme, sacrificing his PhD.

“Such dedication and willingness to act for justice remain rare in Southeast Asia, leaving BDS efforts here with limited impact and slow progress,” he said.

Despite the obstacles, Nazari emphasised that BDS Malaysia remains committed to its goals, though achieving true success will be challenging without a broader willingness to prioritise justice over economic benefits.