KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has contributed RM25 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to assist Palestinians in Gaza facing Israeli violence, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister told the Dewan Rakyat today that this is in addition to the RM100 million worth of humanitarian support that has been provided, which includes bringing injured civilians from Gaza to Malaysia for medical treatment at the military hospital here.
"We will continue with this. To date, RM25 million has been channeled (to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees) and we are discussing with the Foreign Ministry to expedite further financial assistance," he said.
Anwar, who is also the Tambun member of Parliament, also condemned the brutal attacks by the Zionists as "excessive."
He added that there were countries that worked very hard to champion democracy, human rights, and justice, but would close an eye to new colonisers, new forms of oppression, apartheid, and genocide.
"This has never happened in modern history. To me, only those who are barbaric and insane will allow and will provide arguments to defend this tyranny."
Meanwhile, Anwar said the Defence Ministry was in constant contact with the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) stationed in Lebanon to ensure their safety.
He added that the Malaysian ambassador to Lebanon was still in Beirut to monitor the situation.
"There will be a rotation of the current troops to a new team that will arrive here between Nov 6 and Nov 19, followed by the replacement of another Malbatt group."
He said even major powers in recent years had not been as brutal and oppressive as Israel, who was willing to disregard all international rules and laws and put United Nations personnel in Lebanon at risk.
"That is why we support the initiative by Poland to make a joint statement with 33 countries to condemn the attacks.
"Some people want us to bring our Malbatt troops home, but our stand is to be with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon," he added.