According to reports from Reuters and the Malay Mail on August 1, because Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar’s posts on social platforms Facebook and Instagram the day before in memory of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh were deleted by the platforms, Anwar condemned the US company Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) for a “cowardly act” on the same day, and the Malaysian government asked Meta to explain this.
Reuters stated that Anwar posted a video of his phone call with a Hamas official on the above-mentioned social platform on the 31st, and expressed condolences for the death of Ismail Haniyeh during the call, but the video was later deleted by the platform.
Reuters said that in response, Anwar posted on his social platform on August 1, "Let this send a clear and unambiguous message to Meta Company - stop this cowardly behavior."
Reuters said Meta did not respond to a request for comment.
The report also mentioned that Malaysian Minister of Communications Fahmi said on the same day that the Malaysian government had asked Meta to explain this. Reuters stated that this is a new round of conflict between the Malaysian government and Meta over the issue of blocked content.
Reuters mentioned that Meta had previously designated Hamas as a "terrorist organization" and banned content praising the organization. Previously, reports published by the Malaysian media about the meeting between Anwar and Hania were also deleted by Meta, which was protested by the Malaysian side at that time.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a statement on July 31 saying that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli air strike at his residence in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that Iran will quickly announce the results of the case investigation.