GEORGE TOWN — Malaysia has strongly condemned the killing of eight humanitarian workers from the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) in an airstrike in Gaza last Saturday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government had also lodged a strong protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza and other parts of Palestine.
“We strongly condemn the killing and atrocities committed against Mapim volunteers, who were on a humanitarian mission to assist patients and those in need.
“The government has officially lodged a strong protest against the continued violence,” he told reporters after chairing a Special Penang Development Meeting at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) office today.
Yesterday, Mapim chief executive officer Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim confirmed that the eight Palestinian workers were killed in the attack, which took place at 1.30 pm local time in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza.
The airstrike struck as the workers were setting up tents for families who had lost their homes due to continuous attacks by the Zionist regime.
The victims were identified as Mahmoud Yahya Al-Sarraj, Bilal Hossam Oqeila, Mahmoud Samir Oselim, Mahmoud Khaled Oselim, Mohammed Al-Ghafeer, Hazem Ghareeb, Bilal Abu Matar, and Ahmad Hamad.
The one-hour meeting at PDC was also attended by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Implementation Coordination Unit director-general Datuk Seri Sollehuddin Alyubi Zakaria, and Penang state executive council members.
Discussions covered various development and strategic projects in Penang, including the Penang Hill Cable Car, the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT), and the Bakat Baru Madani Affordable Housing (RMM) initiative. — March 18, 2025