SHAH ALAM, May 22 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari today said Israel’s detention of 29 Malaysians who were part of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 is tantamount to a kidnapping.
“We thank God that they were freed, even though this time they were physically abused and stressed by the regime.
“They were detained in international waters, which I take as a kidnapping by the regime. I think (Israel) was desperate when it saw more (GSF 2.0) members coming every day,” he told a press conference after the launch of the Selangor People’s Tuition Programme (PTRS) and Program Didik Kasih (PDK) at Dewan Raja Muda Musa in Section 7 here.
Amirudin, who was also GSF 2.0 Malaysian delegation head, however said the incident will not break their spirit to keep speaking up for Gaza’s freedom.
“God willing, we won’t stop here. We will make sure this message is delivered to, as they say, break the silence,” he added.
He also said the Malaysian GSF 2.0 delegates will come home this weekend, with Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisation (MAPIM) officers already dispatched to oversee the activists’ journeys.
“I didn’t get a chance to go with (the GSF 2.0 delegates), but) maybe I will greet them at (KLIA),” he said.
The menteri besar explained that his office is awaiting a report on the delivery of 30 containers of humanitarian aid dispatched last month, as they are expected to arrive in Gaza soon.
“When they arrive, I will announce it, or I will go there to witness the delivery,” he said.
On April 4, Amirudin was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to lead Malaysia’s emergency aid mission to Gaza and head the local GSF 2.0 delegation.
The mission was launched by MAPIM and Cinta Gaza Malaysia, as well as several non-governmental organisations and strategic partners.
