Danby a ‘pro-Israel’ activist?

IN an extraordinary chain of events, Jewish MP Michael Danby has been “accused” of being pro-Israel in the Malaysian Parliament, a Malaysian news agency has reported.

The Member for Melbourne Ports, who has stood up in the Australian Parliament on umpteen occasions for Israel and the Jewish community, was being criticised for his outspoken support of Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, who is married with six children, is currently being prosecuted in Malaysia on charges of homosexuality.

In a move that has upset Malaysia’s ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, Danby has organised a petition to protest Anwar’s arrest.
Khairy Jamaluddin, the youth leader of the UMNO, is reported to have recently asked a formal question in Parliament.

“I have information, but I want to ask the [Foreign] Ministry whether they know that Danby is a homosexual activist and is also pro-Israel?”

In response, Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, A Kohilan Pillay, read Danby’s parliamentary biography.

“He is the secretary-general (sic) of the Australian-Israel Friendship Group,” he said. “Danby champions for causes like Myanmar, [and] gay rights just for the publicity.”

Danby was incredulous about the accusation. “Mr Khairy’s implication that somehow my support for Israel makes me unfit to comment on Anwar’s trial shows the poverty of arguments in favour of their sleazy attack on the Malaysian Opposition Leader,” he said.

“It also shows how anti-Israel bugbears are pervasive in Malaysian society with no knowledge of Jews or Israel.”