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Former Education Minister Slams Maybank–Microsoft RM1 Billion Deal, Cites Ethical Concerns

Former Education Minister Slams Maybank–Microsoft RM1 Billion Deal, Cites Ethical Concerns

BusinessToday2 days ago
A senior member of the People's Justice Party (Keadilan), the former education minister, Dr Maszlee Malik, has criticised Maybank's RM1 billion digital partnership with Microsoft, calling it insensitive in light of the tech company's alleged involvement in Israel's operations in Gaza.
In a statement issued through Keadilan's International Bureau, the party urged Maybank to suspend and review the collaboration, citing ethical concerns over Microsoft's reported role in supplying artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies to the Israeli regime. These technologies, the bureau claimed, have been used in military operations, resulting in civilian casualties in Gaza.
The party demanded that Maybank publicly disclose any Human Rights risk assessments conducted before the agreement and called on the bank to realign its business decisions with the principles of justice, humanitarian values and Malaysia's foreign policy stance.
Maszlee, who is part of the International Bureau, amplified the criticism on his official X account by sharing BusinessToday's coverage of the partnership, further questioning whether Maybank had weighed the global implications of the tie-up.
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