Group slams critics opposing decision to fly in injured Palestinians

A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals today expressed concern over criticisms of the government’s decision to bring 127 Palestinian refugees to Malaysia for medical aid.

According to the group, the act of allowing Palestinians in is an act of compassion and kindness.

“These refugees comprise 41 chronically ill patients and 86 of their immediate family members. They have gone through the horrors of bombing and deprivation in Gaza and suffered unimaginable trauma.

“Some also have severe physical injuries,” the group said in a statement, noting that the ongoing genocide in Gaza has surpassed 40,000 deaths and displaced and injured thousands of others.

Among the notable CSOs named in the statement are Bersih, the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, Pusat Komas, the Islamic Renaissance Front, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia, Centre for Independent Journalism, G25 Malaysia, Suaram, and Greenpeace Malaysia.

As for individuals, some of the prominent ones named in the statement are Marina Mahathir, Maria Chin Abdullah, Ambiga Sreenevasan, Tian Chua, Ivy Josiah, R Sivarasa, and Suriani Kempe.

Moral, legal obligation

The statement also includes MPs such as Syahredzan Johan (Bangi), Young Syefura Othman (Bentong), and Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang), to name a few.

The group said that as a responsible member of the international community, Malaysia has a moral and legal obligation to do all it can to assist innocent civilians in conflict areas.

“In fact, we feel that the government can and should do more to help Palestinian refugees. It is therefore disheartening to see the negative reactions by some Malaysians to the government decision to provide some small reprieve from the ongoing genocide and destruction of their homes to these Palestinian refugees.

“The Palestinians, who have been brought here, are only a small number compared to the ones still facing death and destruction in their homeland.

“We urge all Malaysians to put aside their prejudices and to see this as what it is, a humanitarian issue,” the group added.

The group further called on the government to recognise the rights of all refugees in the country, and not just the Palestinians.

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