KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday announced that Malaysia will contribute another $1 million (RM3.1 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) to help Palestinian refugees affected by the Israeli military aggression in Gaza. He said Malaysia had recently donated RM1 million to the “Gaza Emergency Fund, established by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation under the patronage of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. “The fund helps alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people in Gaza. A team of volunteers from the foundation are now in Gaza delivering humanitarian assistance to those in need. “We all hope and pray for a quick and lasting resolution to this historical injustice. In the meantime, Malaysia will continue to help the Palestinian people, whether in cash or in kind and political support,” he said at the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here Monday. Najib said last year, Malaysia provided monetary assistance of $2 million (RM6.2 million) to help offset the operational cost of the Embassy of Palestine in Kuala Lumpur besides providing scholarship for Palestinian students to study in Malaysia; assist human capital development through training programmes; and dispatch humanitarian assistance through Malaysian NGOs. For more than 30 years, he said Malaysia had contributed annually to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. Amidst the clamor of war, Najib called the voices of moderation must be raised to counter those extremist who do not share the resolve for peace. “We must persuade the peace loving moderates everywhere that a two-state solution – with a democratic Israel and a free Palestinian State living side-by-side – is in the best interest of all. “I believe the principle and practice of moderation can prevent conflict. That is why in 2010, I advocated the idea of Global Movement of the Moderates to mitigate conflicts perpetrated by extremists regardless of their religion, culture and political ideology. I believe that the Global Movement of Moderates could play a positive role in facilitating Palestine-Israel peace talks. “I would also like to appeal to the Palestinian factions to initiate reconciliation talks immediately and unconditionally, to resolve political differences for the sake of unity and their people. Disagreement and divide will further worsen the situation and risk the lives of more Palestinians,” he said. Najib said Malaysia stands together with Palestinians in search of an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. “We share their hope for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, one based on compliance with international law, standards and resolutions,” he said. Najib said Malaysia congratulated and fully supported the Palestinian bid to become a non-member state of the United Nations on November 29. “This is a significant achievement, bringing the Palestinian dream of a dignified, independent and sovereign state closer. “With time and reconciliation, it will enable the Palestinians to rebuild their lives and build a better future for their children, away from the threats of isolation, extremism and violence,” he said.
