Patriot is gravely concerned over various social media reactions by Malaysians in the wake of the government’s airlifting of some 40 injured victims of the Gaza catastrophe.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has taken the honorable initiative to assist Egypt in providing medical aid to the injured Palestinians being warded in Egyptian hospitals.
“This effort must be recognised as a pure humanitarian effort and not willfully seen through the dangerous lens of religious biases,” said Patriot president Lt Col Zarazilah Mohd Ali.
“Some quarters are fuelling animosity by even challenging if similar aid will be offered to others of non-Islamic faith and this is totally uncalled for.
“Such peddling can harm our multi-racial and multi-religious society,” he warned.
Zarazilah pointed out that the argument of shortcomings in our own medical facilities or hospitals affecting service to Malaysians and the claim that attending to their needs should precede any humanitarian help rendered to the 40 Palestinians reflects hollow, selfish thinking.
By comparison, Malaysians are not starved of reasonable healthcare. Room for improvement should never barricade our care and compassion towards others.
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He pointed out how Malaysia had played significant roles in past decades in responding to war-torn situations, like in Cambodia and Congo.
“We did open our doors to the Vietnamese refugees at a time when our healthcare facilities and infrastructures were lacking in serving citizens,” he cautioned critics.
“Lest we conveniently deny, till today we aid international bodies by accepting the Myanmar refugees.”
Patritot hopes Malaysians will demonstrate magnanimity and not fall prey to attempts to wrongly sensationalise the humanitarian response by the “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government to the plight of the Palestinians.
Patriot agrees we may not be a perfect nation with all the best capabilities and means at our disposal for our citizens’ benefit. But that should not hinder our humanitarian spirit in responding with care and compassion towards others beyond our shores.
“Stop turning our nation’s genuine humanitarian capacity responses into a dangerous racial, religious and societal discord,” he said, reiterating Patriot’s stand. – Patriot
Retired Lt Col Dato’ Zarazilah Mohd Ali is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot).
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
