October 7, 2024
PETALING JAYA – A Palestinian woman has apologised and expressed regret over her involvement in the recent disturbance by a group of Palestinians at Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur (WTKL).
Aminah Muhammad Nafi’ Jamal Abd Rabah said she has been severely distressed after a week of being unable to contact her children who were left in Gaza.
“I am sorry and deeply regret what I did. I swear to God, I did not do it intentionally as we are going through a very difficult situation that only Allah knows,” she said in a video message on Saturday.
She recognised that she and other refugees like her had received generous and respectful treatment in Malaysia and expressed her gratitude to the Malaysian people.
“Malaysians are good people who have treated us with generosity and respect which we are thankful for.
“I swear in the name of Allah that we are receiving the best care and what I say comes sincerely from my heart.
“You have treated us Palestinians with kindness, respect and appreciation. You have fulfilled your duties responsibly, but we were the ones who wronged you,” she added.
On Oct 2, a group of Palestinians reportedly got upset over being denied permission to stay outside WTKL, which resulted in a slipper being thrown at an officer and property damage.
WTKL, a hospitality complex primarily serving military personnel, civilian staff members of the Defence Ministry and their families in transit, had denied the group’s request to leave the premises, as they were only in Malaysia for transit purposes.
On Friday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the recent clash between the refugees and security personnel at WTKL should not be used as an excuse to send them back to their war-torn homeland, no thanks to Israel’s continued aggression in the region.
When contacted on Friday, Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali said that a total of 127 Palestinian citizens, including 41 who were injured due to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, had safely arrived in Malaysia on Aug 16.
The injured have been given treatment with some having been placed in the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital since their arrival and have had little opportunity to go out.