KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night announced an additional RM100 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, reaffirming Malaysia’s continued commitment to supporting Palestinians amid the worsening crisis.
Speaking at the ‘Malam Himpunan dan Selawat Malaysiaku Bersama Gaza’ gathering at Dataran Merdeka, Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the allocation follows a similar RM100 million approved by the government two years ago.
"Tonight, I announce that Malaysia will contribute another RM100 million to assist the people of Palestine," he said during his keynote address, delivered before thousands in attendance.
During the gathering, Anwar condemned the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the violence targeting children, women, hospitals and schools in the region clearly showed that the Zionist regime was willing to use starvation and restrictions on humanitarian aid as weapons of war.
"I am already 78, but I have never seen, read or heard in this era that there are people so cruel.
"Netanyahu and his group are truly insane! Cruel! They even maintain that all the little children (in Gaza) are Hamas ... even a two-year-old child running around is accused of being Hamas. This is sick,” he said.
Anwar added: “These are not humans, these are animals! That is our answer to them. Everything you own is taken away — land, water, families, children … all seized. That is colonialism.
"Why is it so difficult to understand this reality? Why are there people talking about human rights and democracy? What human rights? What democracy? What world order?”
The prime minister said this when delivering the keynote lecture, ‘Malaysiaku Bersama Gaza pada Malam Himpunan dan Selawat Malaysiaku Bersama Gaza’.
Anwar also urged Muslims and the international community to continue to persevere in exerting pressure on Israel to end its atrocities.
“We must continue to take steps forward. Do not feel burdened to move ahead. Yes, it is exhausting, sometimes disappointing, sometimes it feels hopeless … believe in Allah’s help.”
“Now I am the Prime Minister. I use my authority as best as I can, speaking with leaders from Muslim countries, China, India, Japan … not once have I neglected the plight of my brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine. I appeal, I press,” he said.
Also present at the event were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) leaders, including Sumud Nusantara director-general and Cinta Gaza Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman, and Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim) CEO Datuk Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby, were also in attendance.
