IKRAM extends our heartiest welcome to the 127 Palestinians who have arrived at the Subang airbase for medical treatment in Malaysia, courtesy of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on the personal instruction of our Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This group comprises 41 injured, traumatised and sick patients and 86 of their immediate kin, aged between eight months and 62 years. They will undergo medical treatment here and return to Gaza once considered well enough. The RMAF transported them on two Airbus A400M aircraft from Almaza Air Force Base Airport in Egypt.
The Palestinians are from among those who had sought shelter in Egypt after escaping Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, now in its tenth month of operation. The humanitarian disaster has been exacerbated by Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and shooting of the civilian population.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim chose to let his deeds speak for themselves. Although considered a miniscule effort, this flight is a symbolic gesture of Malaysia’s ironclad support for the Palestinian struggle to form a free and independent Palestinian state in the face of their cruel Israeli oppressors.
Some detractors have criticised his actions and written on social media, alleging that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim should become President of Palestine to help its people if he really wanted to help them. This nonsensical talk reeks of inhumanity and utterly selfish disregard for the catastrophe that has been unfolding in front of the world’s eyes, the slaughter of Gaza civilians by the brutal Zionist colonialists reciprocated by the apparent indifference of some civilised governments in the West and their continuing blind support of Israel’s actions.
Critics of our Prime Minister even opined that this is a mere political ploy to win sympathy votes and that it puts a strain on our own resources. However, they forget how history has shown that Malaysia has always been at the forefront in helping refugees of war, offering them temporary shelter regardless of race or religion.
Between 1975 until 2005, during Tun Abdul Razak’s reign who was followed by Tun Ismail Ali, Tun Hussein Onn and then Tun Mahathir, Malaysia hosted over 250,000 Vietnamese boat people fleeing from Vietnam. Likewise, during the Afghan and Bosnian wars and most recently the Rohingya plight, Malaysia also provided a place of refuge. Together with help from the UNHCR, these asylum-seekers were housed, fed, educated and received medical treatment.
When peace returned to their own lands, these people returned or moved onwards to other countries willing to accept them. Clearly, helping refugees has always been part of our proud national ethos. Helping Palestinians receive medical treatment is hence nothing new nor different. It is in the Malaysian DNA to help others in need.
Additionally, Palestinians, especially Gazans, are a proud race and not accustomed to taking the easy way out by vacating their lands. They would rather stay and die than leave Gaza. Since their hospitals, medical facilities and staff are being systematically destroyed and killed by the IDF, the wounded and traumatised civilians need a safe and well-equipped place where they can be medically treated. Malaysia is now providing such a place. Once treated they will be repatriated back home to Gaza.
This humanitarian gesture should therefore be a source of pride to every right-minded, morally concerned Malaysian. History will record how a small country with a big heart called Malaysia came to the assistance of the Gazans in their darkest hour of need and flew their injured and wounded at considerable expense to receive the treatment they deserved. So, Terima Kasih PMX for your humanitarian gesture. This is the true spirit of Malaysian Madani!
