Malaysian authorities have detained four shipments destined for Israel at the country’s Tanjung Pelepas port, sources familiar with the matter said, highlighting heightened scrutiny amid Malaysia’s longstanding opposition to trade with Israel.
Three containers carrying electric bicycle parts, originating from Chinese manufacturer Chongqing Mobimax Technology, were seized on August 19 and remain held at the port, according to shipping manifests and tracking data. The cargo was bound for Ashdod Port, located south of Tel Aviv. These containers were transported by the liner AP Moller-Maersk.
Earlier, on August 7, a separate container originating from the Philippines and suspected of containing weapons was detained by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency. That shipment was en route to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense technology company, and was being transported by Hagap-Lloyd. The container remains at Tanjung Pelepas as investigations continue.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, responding to the August 7 seizure, stated that the country will not facilitate trade flows that support what he referred to as “the cruelty of the Israeli regime.” Malaysia does not maintain diplomatic or trade relations with Israel and bars imports from and exports to Israel under its customs laws. However, the legislation permits the transit of goods, which adds complexity to enforcement efforts at the transshipment-focused port.
Efforts to obtain further comment from Malaysian government representatives, including Anwar Ibrahim’s office, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Border Control and Protection Agency, the Johor Port Authority, and the Ministry of Transport, were unsuccessful. Representatives of the involved companies—Elbit Systems, Mobimax Technology, Hagap-Lloyd, and Maersk—also declined to comment.
Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia’s second-largest port and its largest in terms of transshipment volume, sits near the strategic Strait of Malacca and handles cargo where approximately 90% is transferred between ships without entering Malaysia’s domestic market.
The seizures come amid a backdrop of strong pro-Palestinian sentiment within Malaysia’s Muslim-majority population, which has intensified following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023. Since then, there have been widespread public protests and consumer boycotts targeting Israeli businesses. In line with this stance, Prime Minister Anwar banned Israeli shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from Malaysian ports in December 2023.
Authorities recently also closed a Johor-based startup academy linked to a crypto investor after an investigation uncovered that Israeli students were allegedly studying there in violation of immigration laws barring Israeli passport holders from entering Malaysia without official permission.
The seizures underscore Malaysia’s firm position on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the challenges in monitoring shipments passing through one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.