Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor said the government and the Umno Welfare Bureau realised that the present situation in Gaza is unsafe due to bombing by Israel.

 

"We will only send the team when the situation there is safe. Presently, Gaza is the target of 300 to 400 bombs daily," he told reporters after launching the Nur Ramadan programme of Titiwangsa parliamentary constituency yesterday.

 

When asked how the volunteers would enter Gaza when the border gates at Rafah were closed, Tengku Adnan said they have their own ways to channel aid.

 

"I'm sure the volunteers will discuss how to send the aid and how to enter Gaza," said the federal territories minister.

 

In conjunction with the Nur Ramadan programme, the federal territories ministry presented a cheque for RM10,000 to Masjid Al-Akram, Datuk Keramat.

 

The ministry also presented cash aid and essential goods to 500 poor folks including orphans, single mothers, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

 

Be thankful for peace, says PM

 

Meanwhile Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Muslims in the country should be thankful for being able to carry out various religious obligations during Ramadan in complete peace.  

 

He said Muslims in several Islamic countries like Palestine and Syria could not carry out fasting and other obligations completely as the people are living in fear as a result of war.  

 

"We in Malaysia are very blessed to be able to conduct religious obligations according to our desire during Ramadan without any hindrance.  

 

"In being grateful for the blessings of Allah, we should think of our brothers in Gaza where they are fearful of incessant mercyless attacks by the Zionist regime," he said.      

 

He was speaking at a presentation of Aidilfitri contributions to orphans at the Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque before the breaking fast with more than 10,000 residents at the Kuantan Municipality Council field besides the mosque.  

 

Najib said he was sad with the bloodshed taking place in Palestine now where 76 percent of those killed were civilians, especially children  

 

According to him, conflicts between countries would only destroy the people and such conflicts were forbidden in Islam  

 

"Do not cause conflicts among ourselves, a country in conflict will eventually lose its power and the enemies will do whatever the can against us when Islamic countries are weak.  

 

"It has reached the stage now when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not even heed international pressure to stop attacks on Gaza as he sees Islamic countries as weak, more so as he is an arrogant leader," said Najib.

- Bernama