Send PKR 12 to Palestine, Umno Youth chief tells PM

 

Expressing support for the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools, Umno Youth asked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to send the 12 PKR elected representatives who opposed the initiative to Palestine.

The wing’s chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh suggested the 12 be enlisted for a humanitarian mission to the war-torn area.

Urging the government not to cancel the initiative, he said: “This is not a question of violence or vengeance. It is related to increasing awareness about the Palestine-Israel conflict.”

“I would like to suggest to PMX (Anwar) to send the 12 on a humanitarian mission to Palestine so that they will clearly understand what is happening there,” Akmal (above) added in a Facebook post.

Last Saturday, the PKR elected representatives issued a joint statement calling for a review of the initiative in order for schools and public institutions to be free from elements of “hatred and violence”.

Brandishing toy guns

This followed the circulation of images showing Malaysian schoolchildren brandishing toy guns while donning headbands voicing support for Palestine as well as the black and white Palestinian scarf.

Those who signed the statement were Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung and Miri MP Chiew Choon.

The other signatories were state assemblypersons from Kebun Bunga (Lee Boon Heng), Rawang (Chua Wei Kiat), Semambu (Chan Chun Kuang), Simpang Pulai (Wong Chai Yi) Chuah (Yew Boon Lye), Bukit Tambun (Goh Choon Aik), Kajang (David Cheong Kian Yong), Bukit Batu (Arthur Chiong Sen Sern) and Bakar Arang (Adam Loh Wei Chai).

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan cautioned the 12 and others to be “more careful” with regard to using terms such as “grudges, resentment and violence”.

Nasrudin Hasan

Meanwhile, former PAS leader Nasrudin Hasan trained his guns on DAP which also called for a review of the initiative while reaffirming its support for the Palestinian people on humanitarian grounds.

“When all Muslims and people around the world regardless of religion are condemning Israel, DAP and their leaders are condemning the Palestine Solidarity Week,” he said.

On the other hand, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, without mentioning DAP, remarked that the “rocket” can also be perceived as a threat of violence. The “rocket” is DAP’s logo.

“If you consider scarves used to cover the faces of fighters opposed to occupation and cruelty as violent, then the rocket symbol can also be considered as violent.

“Who do you want to launch the rocket at? Who do you want to destroy?” he said. - Mkini