KUALA LUMPUR: The United States Embassy in Malaysia has received a memorandum containing three demands on the Palestinian issue, serving as a diplomatic channel to voice Malaysian solidarity, including from grassroots movements in Sabah.
This combination of diplomacy and public action reflects Malaysia’s support that goes beyond street demonstrations, extending pressure on the international community to ensure the safety of 23 Malaysian flotilla volunteers currently detained by Israeli forces.
PKR Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim said the US Embassy agreed to accept the memorandum at 3pm on Friday (Oct 3), allowing two representatives, including PKR international bureau chairman Dr Maszlee Malik, to hand it over.
“Besides listening to the demands, the US Embassy also assured the safety of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) volunteers, including Malaysians, and pledged to assist in ensuring their safe return,” he said after the handover at Jalan Tun Razak.
Muhammad Kamil, who is also the Prime Minister’s political secretary, added that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had been in contact with leaders of Turkiye and Qatar since Thursday to coordinate the volunteers’ return, with the US Embassy assuring that efforts are already underway.
Earlier, thousands of participants in the Free Sumud Flotilla Solidarity Rally marched from the Tabung Haji building to the US Embassy after Friday prayers, carrying flags and banners calling for an end to Israel’s blockade.
The wave of support spread nationwide through special prayers at mosques in Pahang, Sabah, Perak and Melaka.
In Sabah, more than 300 people gathered at the State Mosque in Kota Kinabalu, joined by over 20 non-governmental organisations waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans of freedom.
Sabah Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia president Mohd Zikri Zainudin said the gathering carried a clear message that humanitarian aid must be urgently delivered to Gaza.
President of the Sabah Writers’ Association, Awang Abdul Muizz Awang Marusin, said the show of solidarity highlighted Gaza as a global humanitarian crisis, not merely an issue of religion or race.
Similar support was seen in Pahang, where nearly 2,000 people gathered at the Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque in Kuantan, while in Perak, more than 500 worshippers special prayers at the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque in Ipoh.
In Melaka, prayers were held at Masjid Al-Azim and mosques across the state. One participant, Adam Maz Iskandar Shamsudin, 21, described the volunteers’ commitment as extraordinary, noting their willingness to deliver food and aid to Gaza despite the risks.
On Thursday, Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim confirmed that 23 Malaysian activists had been detained by Israeli forces after communication was lost and video evidence of their arrest surfaced.
Those detained include singer Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah (on the vessel Hio); Nurfarahin Romli, also known as Farah Lee, and Danish Nazran Murad (Grande Blu); singer Zizi Kirana (Huga); Musa Nuwayri, Iylia Balqis and Sul Aidil (Alma); Haikal Abdullah, Muaz Zainal, Zulfadhli Khiduddin and Rusydi Ramli (Sirius).
Others are Razali Awang (Inana); influencer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, better known as Ardell Aryana (Mikeno); PU Rahmat, Norhelmi Ab Ghani, Mohd Asmawi Mukhtar and Norazman Ishak (Estrella); Zainal Rashid and Ustaz Muhammad (Fair Lady); as well as Muhammad Hareez Adzrami or Haroqs, Muhd Haikal Luqman Zulkefli and Taufiq Mohd Razif (Free Willy).
The GSF mission brought together more than 500 activists from 44 countries, sailing towards Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break Israel’s blockade.
The humanitarian mission has drawn global attention with the participation of international figures including climate activist Greta Thunberg, Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela. – Bernama
