Palestinians to get scholarships

PUTRAJAYA: Twelve local universities will be offering scholarships to selected Palestinian students living here, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“I would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Govern­ment has decided to offer scholarships through the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) for Palestinian students to pursue bachelor, masters, and PhD courses in 12 established Malaysian universities,” he said in his speech at the Ninth Grand Iftar with the Palestinian community here yesterday.

The event was organised by PCOM.

Dr Mahathir also reaffirmed the country’s commitment towards the Palestinian struggle.

“We have and will always stand by you.

Working together: Dr Mahathir (centre) standing together with PCOM chairman Muslim Imran (in jacket) and representatives from 12 local universities who raised RM11. 47mil to fund the scholarships.

“We will not keep quiet for as long as we see the atrocities and injustices committed by the Israeli regime,” he said.

There was nothing ambiguous or vague, said Dr Mahathir, about the plight of the Palestinians who had been oppressed for decades.

“It is a story about a group of people who were once free but have lost their land forcibly through a brutal occupation committed blatantly for the whole world to see,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said standing up for the Palestinians was a moral obligation.

“Malaysia will continue to condemn Israel for its aggression and cruelties against the Palestinians,” he said.

Also present were Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Khalid Meshaal, former chairman of Hamas.

The scholarships will be funded from some RM11.47mil raised by the universities.