Germany's Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has condemned a Malaysian man who gave the Nazi salute during his graduation ceremony.

Key points: The graduate claimed to have been acting in solidarity with the Palestinians

The graduate claimed to have been acting in solidarity with the Palestinians Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has a history of anti-Semitic commentary

Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has a history of anti-Semitic commentary Josh Frydenberg last year entered a war of words over Mr Mahathir's rhetoric

Responding to a viral social media post which has stirred debate in the South-East Asian country this week, the Embassy said it was "shocked" to learn of the student's actions.

"Considering the terrible suffering that was brought upon the world during World War II by the Nazi regime of Germany, the German Embassy unequivocally condemns any show of support for a regime responsible for Genocide and would expect the Malaysian Government and University authorities to do the same," it said in a statement.

A student of the University of Malaysia in the eastern city of Kota Kinabalu posted the photo on his Facebook page, accompanied by a caption written in Malay praising Adolf Hitler.

The man added that he "stands in solidarity with Gaza due to my anger, hatred and desire for revenge against the Jewish people".

A spokesperson for the University of Malaya Sabah said that the graduate did not reflect the views of the university and that incidents like it would not be allowed to take place in future.

The country's foreign ministry has not commented on the matter.

Muslim-majority Malaysia is a staunch defender of the Palestinians' cause and does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.

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Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has a long history of making remarks that are derogatory towards Jews.

While speaking at Cambridge University earlier this year, Mr Mahathir said that he had Jews who were "very good friends", but that "they are not like the other Jews, that's why they are my friends".

He has previously said that Jews "rule the world by proxy" and that he is "glad to be labelled anti-Semitic", defending his stance as being part of exercising free speech.

Asked to clarify his anti-Semitic comments during a forum at Columbia University this year, Mr Mahathir asked, "why is it that I can't say something against the Jews when a lot of people say nasty things about me, about Malaysia, and I didn't protest?"

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg publicly censured Mr Mahathir in late 2018 for having "form" in making anti-Semitic comments, after the Malaysian leader criticised the Morrison Government's consideration of moving Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem.

"[Mr Mahathir] banned Schindler's List as a movie being shown, though it showed the amazing story of a righteous gentile who saved many people from persecution," Mr Frydenberg said at the time.

Mahathir Mohamad has continued to defend his anti-Semitic remarks. ( Reuters: Lai Seng Sin )

When Germany won the 2014 football World Cup, a Malaysian politician upset many by tweeting "WELL DONE … LONG LIVE HITLER."

Malaysia is also home to a fringe subculture of neo-Nazi Malay supremacists, who endorse an end to immigration and the establishment of an ethnostate exclusively for Malay Muslims.

A punk show featuring Malay supremacist bands was cancelled in March this year after pressure from activists.