A CALL on social media for the Malaysian armed forces to do away with US and/or Israeli-linked weapons manufacturers has stirred up an interesting debate.
Anti-Zionist netizen @G3G4R_official has called for the boycott of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2024 exhibitions scheduled from today (May 6) to Thursday (May 9) given a number of participating companies are alleged to have ties with the Jewish state or complicit in atrocities being carried out in Palestine.
🚨SERUAN TINDAKAN🚨
HENTIKAN PROMOSI PEMBEKAL SENJATA ISRAEL DI MALAYSIA!
1./ MINDEF bakal menjemput pembekal senjata Israel untuk pameran dwitahunan Natsec Asia 2024. pic.twitter.com/71BA6fYA94
— #GEGAR · 搖撼美帝 · ݢݢر اميريکا (@G3G4R_official) May 3, 2024
The poster further urged netizens to wage an online campaign to pressure relevant stakeholders and government institutions to not only to ban certain companies from participating in the NATSEC event but also suggested a boycott of their products.
This led to a flurry of comments with more than one netizen asking what viable solution has he got to offer.
More than a few ridiculed the poster’s suggestion, wondering if the armed forces was going to resort to traditional weaponry in defence of the nation.
Quite a few did not mince their word in calling out the poster for his nonsensical calls for a boycott.
The post also led another user with the handle Irfan_newboys to post a lengthy retort.
Baca sampai habis
Boleh kalau nak boikot
Pertama. Kena adil. Kita boikot sekali semua syarikat China dan Rusia yang turut sokong Israel dari segi pertahanan dan jugak bunuh orang Islam
Jangan pilih bulu kalau nak boikot
Kedua. Pasukan Pejuang Palestin jugak ada guna senjata… https://t.co/oZRe24YMbV pic.twitter.com/l2WbImxrCa
— Irfan_newboys🇲🇾🇵🇸🏳️🏴 (@Marchfoward) May 4, 2024
This poster quite rightly pointed out that even Palestine freedom fighters and Hezbollah militia also used American/Israeli-made weapons.
He also suggested that if there was to be a boycott of US weapons manufacturers, it should also extend to China and Russia-based companies which are similarly complicit in backing Israel in the current conflict with Hamas.
More than one netizen agreed with this poster’s sentiments, pointing out other conflicts in which weapons from the other side were used to gain an advantage.
A few who seemed to be speaking from experience vouched for the quality of these American-made arms.
A few also sarcastically suggested that domestic armed forces resort to sling shots instead.
The ridicule that has met the original poster’s call for a boycott seem to highlight a new malaise among Malaysians – brainless boycotting.
It is one thing to call for boycott of fast-food franchises but it is quite another to ask the brave men and women in the armed forces to carry out their duties with substandard equipment in the battlefield. – May 6, 2024
Main image credit: Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia
