KUALA LUMPUR: A group of non-governmental organisations, civil society members, politicians and members of the public, have urged Malaysians to set aside their prejudice and view the government's decision to bring Palestinian refugees to Malaysia as a humanitarian issue.
In a joint statement, the group expressed its concerns over negative reactions from some segments of the public to the decision and reminded the public, that as human beings, Malaysia has to act with compassion.
"The Palestinians, who have been brought here, are only a small number compared to the ones still facing death and destruction in their homeland.
"There is a moral imperative that we must act with compassion towards our fellow human beings who suffer due to no fault of their own and who are in our country.
"This transcends all our differences because it recognises the right of every human being to live in dignity and free from fear," it said in a statement.
Among those who endorsed the statement were Bangi member of parliament (MP) Syahredzan Johan, Benton MP Young Syefura Othman, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, the Centre for Independent Journalism, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Bersih, Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia and Refugee Network Center Malaysia.
The group also urged the government to take steps to recognise the rights of all refugees who are in the country as well as the Palestinians.
Currently, Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, and consequently, under immigration laws, all refugees and asylum seekers are classified as illegal immigrants.
The Palestinians, flown into the country on two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft, arrived in Malaysia from Almaza Air Base in Egypt on Aug 16.
The mission was undertaken following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement at the Palestine Solidarity Rally on Aug 4 in Kuala Lumpur where he said that the country will provide medical treatment to injured Palestinian civilians.
On Saturday, Anwar voiced his disappointment over criticism from certain quarters regarding the government's decision to bring injured Palestinians from Gaza to Malaysia for medical treatment.
He noted that some critics went to great lengths to condemn this humanitarian gesture, which was merely a modest act of compassion towards Palestinians who have been enduring severe suffering due to Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza.