“We do not have diplomatic or direct business relations with Israel. This issue is very close to Malaysians as a whole and I don’t think we can compromise.

“I hope the ministry can carry out further monitoring to ensure this does not happen again,” he said at a press conference here today.

On Sunday, Zahid said the investigation into the existence of a container belonging to Israel-based shipping company ZIM at Iskandar Puteri port needed to be expedited.

He was quoted as saying the port and customs authorities should act immediately, especially to find out how the strict rules were violated in allowing the container into the country.

On Saturday, Kota Iskandar assemblyman Pandak Ahmad was reported to have said he was surprised when he received complaints from residents, who claimed the port was still accepting containers brought from Israel.