Ian Miles Cheong, a hyper-conservative poster from Malaysia popular in the West who has a long-standing interest in American politics, told the Kuala Lumpur newspaper New Straits Times on Saturday that he isn’t an advocate for Israel.
Malaysia doesn’t have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim marched with pro-Palestine protesters last year and refused to “bow to Western pressure” by rejecting Hamas, reported Reuters.
Last December, Malaysia arrested a 36-year-old man after he said the country should open diplomatic relations with Israel in an interview on TikTok.
The clip reportedly sparked an uproar among people who claimed the stance didn’t represent the views of the people of Malaysia. According to the country’s strict speech laws, it can be illegal to “bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection” against a ruler.
Initially, Cheong was deeply involved in the Gamergate controversy of 2014, a heated debate that highlighted the gender disparities within the gaming community, leading to widespread harassment.
During this period, Cheong identified as a “turbo-feminist” and was vocal in supporting female game developers, including Zoe Quinn.
However, over time, his interests and public stance evolved, moving away from the gaming industry to immerse himself in the complex arena of political discourse.
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