A Hebrew-language bumper sticker on a Malaysian retiree’s pickup truck has triggered a police investigation and online backlash, reflecting how symbols associated with Israel can quickly ignite tensions in a country known for its strong pro-Palestinian stance.
The controversy erupted after a photo showing the sticker – which translates to “Malaysia is our home” – on the back of the truck began circulating widely on social media earlier this week.
The photo quickly went viral, with some online users falsely translating the text as “Malaysia is in our hands” – a phrase that fuelled speculation the sticker was a covert pro-Israel message.
In a statement on Thursday, Malacca state police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed that officers had located the vehicle’s owner – a 59-year-old former civil servant – and questioned him over the sticker.
“He stated that he is a patriotic person and an enthusiast of foreign scripts such as Russian, Greek and Hebrew,” Dzulkhairi said.