Mahathir chides Opposition for criticising aid mission

KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamadchided the Opposition for belittling the humanitarian effort to provide aid to famine-hit Somalia by claiming that it is a publicity stunt by Putera 1Malaysia Club.

“No matter what good we do, they (the Opposition) will not look at it kindly. This is the Opposition for you. They are of ill-heart,” he told reporters during his Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir cited the alleged disparaging remarks made by PAS deputypresident Mohamad Sabu against national leaders who fought for independence.

“The Opposition does not know how to be thankful or grateful. They even say disparaging things about those who struggled for the independence they now enjoy,” he said.

Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 39, a BernamaTV cameraman, died last Friday after he was hit by a bullet when covering the humanitarian aid mission for Somali famine victims.

The Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) wants security to be a priority in humanitarian missions. Its president, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, said she regretted the shooting tragedy.

In expressing her condolences to Noramfaizul’s family at Serdang Raya near here, the Prime Minister’s wife said she felt their grief and prayed they would accept their loss as God’s will.

Rosmah handed over a RM5,000 contribution to the family.

Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said he plans to raise RM5,000 for each of Noramfaizul’s two young sons. .

Shahrir said the planned donations from his constituents for Mohd Irfan, eight, and Mohd Naufal, three, would be invested in Amanah Saham Didik.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Wisma Putra had sent a team of officials to look into safety measures in Somalia before the mission members went there.

“We needed to be very certain that the country provided ample and satisfactory protection, which they did, but this was one of those unexpected things,” he told reporters yesterday.

- The Star