Over 16,000 in Malaysia including PM Anwar stage yet another show of force in support of Palestinians

KUALA LUMPUR: Over 16,000 people including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim turned up on Tuesday (Oct 24) night as Malaysia staged another show of force in support of the Palestinians amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has claimed thousands of lives.

Participants, from all ages and from all walks of life including students, professionals, refugees, religious leaders, and politicians, gathered at a rally organised by the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) at an indoor stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Among the rally-goers – many wearing white and chanting for Palestine to be free – was graphic designer Anisah Zahirun, 23, who travelled alone from Puchong, Selangor to attend the event.

She said she has been deeply affected by what is happening in Gaza that she couldn’t bear to watch videos and news of the conflict. 

“I wonder where is the humanity. I am so afraid to even watch the news because I will get very shaky and anxious,” she told CNA.

She hoped that Malaysia would be able to assert more pressure on the international community to stop the conflict once and for all.

“Everytime Gaza is bombed, there is noise but then it dies down. And the same thing repeats over and over again, ” she said.

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked after the militant group’s cross-border assaults on Oct 7 that killed some 1,400 people in Israel.

Since then, at least 5,000 Palestinians have been killed amid Israel’s heavy air strike bombardment of the Gaza strip, with a ground offensive looming.

Another Malaysian, Ms Sharifah Fatimatiz Zahra, 36, said she wanted to be at the rally since she is unable to physically fight with the Palestinians.

Mrs Sharifah, who is from Negeri Sembilan, had come to the rally with her husband and two children.