PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has applauded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s humanitarian visit to Gaza, saying it showed the country’s staunch support for Palestine.

“Malaysia should be proud with the Prime Minister’s bravery in visiting Gaza to see the conditions faced by Palestinians. His visit also reiterates Malaysia’s stand to continue its support to Palestine, in any way it can,” the deputy prime minister said.

Muhyiddin said the Prime Minister, who made the visit with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was the first non-Arab head of state to visit Gaza.

“I believe the Prime Minister’s visit will solidify Malaysia’s role in heading international initiatives to fight for the freedom and peace of Palestine,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.

“Malaysia gives its full support to a unity government between Fatah and Hamas that would be a prerequisite to the victory of the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom,” he said.

A split between the two groups in 2007 led to the West Bank being governed by Fatah and the Gaza Strip by Hamas. The two sides signed a reconciliation plan sponsored by Egypt in May last year.

On a separate matter, Muhyiddin offered his condolences to the family of Chong Chung Ngen who was killed during the hostage drama in In Amenas, Algeria.

Chong, 55, worked as a quality control inspector with JGC Construction Ptd Ltd and was among hundreds of people taken hostage by terrorists on Jan 16.

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