KUALA LUMPUR — Aminah Muhammad Nafi’ Jamal Abd Rabbah, one of two Palestinian woman involved in an altercation with security personnel at Wisma Transit here, has apologised to all Malaysians for her behaviour.
In a video posted on Facebook by a TikTok account called TahreerGh, who claims to be Palestinian, Aminah described her behaviour at Wisma Transit as unintentional as she has been going through hardship.
“I am a mother to three martyrs and it’s been one week since I have been unable to contact my children in Gaza.
“There’s been no communication and I don’t know what’s been going on there,” Aminah said.
Israeli Defence Forces have conducted a brutal bombing campaign in Gaza for the past one year, and now in southern Lebanon, following an attack by Hamas militants on October 7 last year.
Even today, reports said that Israel bombed a mosque in Gaza, killing 21 people.
In her apology, Aminah described Malaysians as kind and respectful people who have helped the Palestinian people.
In asking Malaysians to accept her apology, she urged them consider and empathise with the sufferings Palestinians like her have gone through.
“We are grateful for your help. You did your duties well and we have wronged you.
“I hope you can put yourself in my shoes and accept my apology,” Aminah added.
Last week, a video featuring Aminah and other Palestinians in an altercation with Malaysian Armed Forces personnel in Wisma Transit went viral on social media, drawing backlash from netizens.
On Friday, Palestine’s ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali said that altercation was because they were not allowed to leave Wisma Transit, a building under the Defence Ministry used for various purposes including providing accommodation.
Walid said the dispute has been resolved and stressed that the incident did not reflect the conduct of his people.
Despite some calls on social media for the Palestinians in Wisma Transit to be sent back, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution has pointed out that it would be unreasonable to do so given that Gaza is still at war and in ruins.
Saifuddin said the home ministry is open to reviewing the type of passes issued to better accommodate the Palestinians.
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 6, 2024