Speaking to Al Jazeera in an interview aired today, Anwar said the US could not back its suspicion that Malaysian companies were involved in ship-to-ship transshipment in international waters.
He added that Malaysia disagreed with the move by the US to impose unilateral sanctions on four Malaysian companies last December because sanctions can only be decided by the United Nations.
“If they have evidence, of course we have to stop (the companies) because we want to be part of the international community and accept the ground rules,” he said.
Anwar said no countermeasures are forthcoming from Putrajaya on the US sanctions and that Malaysia is “continuing to engage with the Americans”.
“(We are telling them) we have to defend the rights of our companies if they do not transgress international law or decisions by the United Nations.
“You can’t be deemed to be bullying smaller states, particularly one that has been a loyal friend for a long time,” he said.
The four Malaysian-based companies sanctioned by the US Treasury last December had allegedly been providing components for Iran’s weapons programme.
Top US Treasury official Brian Nelson had said earlier this month that Washington was looking to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where Hamas could raise funds and move money.
Reuters previously reported there had been an uptick in money moving to Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, through the Malaysian financial system.
Meanwhile, Anwar defended his engagement with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar recently and lashed out at critics who condemned Malaysia for engaging with a group categorised by Western countries as a terror organisation.
“Why this hypocrisy of condemning Hamas on the Oct 7 (attack on Israel) and being muted with regard to the 60 years or more of atrocities against the Palestinian people?
“We need to explain that this engagement is purely diplomatic and political.
“Even trying to secure the release of hostages (requires) contact and engagement.
“You don’t need to agree with everything that they do. But I think a principled stance would help,” he said.