KUALA LUMPUR: Local public and private higher-learning institutions have joined the humanitarian initiative to aid Palestinians, where they will bring in more students affected by the war in Gaza to continue their studies here.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said aside from providing financial assistance, focus on the urgent restoration of education for Palestinians was also needed.
"Apart from discussing (the fate of) the Palestinians amidst the ongoing killings there, initiatives to rebuild Gaza, particularly in terms of education, must be undertaken.
"This is a very fundamental issue and the ministry will open more opportunities, not to just bring them to Malaysia for medical treatment, but also to provide educational opportunities.
"This is Malaysia's commitment and we will continue these efforts."
Zambry said this in a roundtable discussion themed "From Destruction to Reconstruction: Empowering Gaza's Education" at Universiti Malaya (UM) today (Tuesday).
Present were International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia president Dr Maszlee Malik, its chief executive officer Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IESCO) board member Professor Md Roslan Hashim and UM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Seri Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
Zambry added that he had also held meetings with the vice-chancellors of both public and private universities on taking steps to help Palestinians, which included using their medical facilities to treat wounded Palestinians.
"I mentioned in yesterday's meeting with several vice-chancellors that they should take steps (to help the people of Gaza). Some of the public universities have their own training hospitals.
"This means they can assist the 127 people of Gaza who have already been brought here for treatment, for example. Hence, they are not only placed in public hospitals.
"Therefore, I urge universities with hospitals to provide space for them," he said.
Earlier in his keynote address, Zambry said Palestinians did not require basic education only, but the right to access higher education must also be prioritised.
"They place immense value not only on basic education, but also on higher education. They continue to strive for academic excellence despite facing unimaginable hardship.
"Remarkably, the literacy rate in Gaza is among the highest in the world at 96.8 per cent, which is higher than the average in the United Nations Development Programme category.
"From 1993 to 2011, the enrolment rate of Gaza students in higher education had also increased by 940 per cent.
"All of this is evidence of the deep commitment of the region to knowledge and learning," he said.
At the same time, Zambry said through the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP), the government had approved a total funding of US$3.87 million to cover tuition fees and provide monthly financial assistance to Palestinian students in Malaysia for a year.
He also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had assured that additional support would be considered if necessary.
"In addition, the Malaysian government will cover other university-related fees amounting to US$1.13 million.
"This initiative reflects Malaysia's commitment to ensuring that Palestinian students can continue their education without bearing financial burden," he said.