KUALA LUMPUR — Palestinians brought to Malaysia for medical treatment who wish to return to Gaza have to sign a letter of consent, Palestine Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali said.
He told Bernama that some of them had expressed their desire to leave Malaysia.
“However, they have to sign a letter of consent to show that it is upon their request to go back. The Defence Ministry and the embassy will arrange to send them back to where they came from.
“This had been discussed and agreed with the Defence Ministry when we met,” he said told the national news agency.
So far, his embassy had received 10 verbal requests from Palestinians wishing to return home.
Walid met with Defence Ministry officials yesterday following an altercation between Palestinians housed at Wisma Transit and security personnel.
Last night, he apologised to Malaysians over the incident, which was captured on video and went viral on social media, drawing condemnation for the behaviour of two Palestinian women who damaged property and argued with security.
Expressing regret over the incident, Walid said it did not reflect the conduct of Palestinians in general, and those involved in the altercation had been emotional and frustrated at not being allowed to leave Wisma Transit freely due to safety reasons.
Wisma Transit is a facility under Malaysia’s Defence Ministry, used for various purposes including providing accommodation.
Last night, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the altercation should not be used as an excuse to send the Palestinians home.
He said it did not make sense for the government to do so as Palestine was embroiled in war. Saifuddin Nasution also urged Malaysians not to come to any general conclusions based on the incident and blame Palestinians in general.
“What’s important is that we seek solutions on how we can use existing laws with their presence here.
“The Home Ministry is ready to cooperate as the related Acts (for them to be in the country) is under our jurisdiction. It depends on the type of suitable pass for them to be here,” Bernama reported him saying at an event in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok, Kedah, last night.
“Their presence here initially is for treatment, so the pass issued was suitable for that reason. So, at the ministry level, we have discussed on the way forward and we will take the proposal for the ministry to issue a suitable pass,” he added.
In August, Malaysia evacuated 41 injured Palestinians along with 86 of their relatives. The injured were treated at the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital here, while the relatives are housed at a transit location provided by the Defence Ministry. – October 5, 2024