Published: Tuesday November 20, 2012 MYT 7:06:00 PM

Malaysia launches Gaza emergency fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday called on Malaysians to continue to provide aid in various forms to the people of Gaza, Palestine who are being oppressed by Israel.

Dr Mahathir, who is also president of Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), said whatever aid including food, clothing, construction materials or cash could assist the Palestinians to continue to live and receive better protection.

"Malaysia has several bodies that are providing aid to Gaza. Today we launch a fund. The proceeds will be distributed to several NGOs (non-governmental organisations) which have distribution networks in Gaza, that we (PGPF) don't.

“So, we are willing to give to anyone that are aligned with us whether within the country or in Europe," he told reporters after launching the Gaza Emergency Fund at the Putra World Trade Centre, here.

Also present were his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali and PGPF Chairman, Tan Sri Norian Mai.

Israeli attacks on Palestine since Nov 15 had killed more than 100 people in Gaza including children and the elderly, as well as injuring hundreds of others.

Although Israel continues to impose blockades on any aid entering Gaza, Dr Mahathir said Malaysians could contribute without any limitation as the proceeds would directly be distributed to the relevant parties endlessly.

While he regretted the blockade imposed, he was still thankful because the change in government in Egypt had to a certain extent made it easier to send aid to the people of Gaza.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir labeled Israel as the 'most lawless country ever seen in world history' as it had broken every international law and carried out assassinations.

"For every ship bringing supplies to Gaza, Israel mounted military attack on the ship. Israel said it is only looking after its security but its security is based on the insecurity of everybody else," he said.

Dr Mahathir pointed out that Israel believed it had the right to carry out pre-emptive attacks on any country at any time, as what it did to Sudan recently.

He said the people in Gaza also had the right to be secure, especially when they were put under blockade and were denied food and medicine.

"What are they going to do when the world just looks on and does nothing. So, they try to fight back in their own way. They fire some harmless rockets which are not invented by the great power in the world," he said while demanding for Israel to show evidence that the action had killed three of their people and caused damage to Tel Aviv.

"The evidence overwhelmingly showed that Israel is the terrorist. Israel is a terrorist state. It terrifies everybody around it.

He later presented PGPF's contribution of RM100,000 to Prof Paola Manduca on behalf of Medical Aid of Palestine. - Bernama

More News