KUALA NERUS: Just half an hour before he was detained by Israeli forces on Thursday (Oct 2), Ustaz Muhammad Abdullah, better known as Ustaz Mad Kecik, told his mother, "Mom, if anything happens like being arrested, please don't worry!"
His mother, Noor Aini Mamat, 59, said her fourth child managed to make a video call at about 3.30pm, hinting that he might face the same fate as other members of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission to Gaza.
"When he was first invited to join this mission, he told me that if he were destined to die, I should accept it with an open heart and that we would meet again on the Day of Judgment," she told Bernama at Sultan Mahmud Airport here Friday (Oct 3).
This morning, Noor Aini and three family members left for Kuala Lumpur to monitor the latest developments on Muhammad, 32, who was sailing aboard the Fair Lady vessel with other flotilla participants.
She added that she had once expressed her wish to join the GSF herself but was discouraged by her son, who was concerned they might end up on different boats.
"I told him I wanted to go as well to help our brothers and sisters in Gaza, but Muhammad refused, afraid that we would be separated," she said, adding that she has lost her appetite since learning of his detention on Thursday.
Noor Aini is now praying that her son will be treated safely and allowed to return to Terengganu, where he manages a religious school in Kampung Dura, Hulu Terengganu.
Although small in stature, she described Muhammad as having a generous spirit, having joined many humanitarian missions including to Syria, Cambodia and Sabah.
"He always loves to help the needy, whether at home or abroad. He would buy and bring food and basic supplies from here (Terengganu). He told me this mission (GSF) was different from the others, but he was still determined to go," she said.
The GSF mission, joined by more than 500 activists from 44 countries including Malaysia, set sail for Gaza as a symbol of solidarity and an effort to break Israel's blockade, bringing essential supplies to Palestinians affected by ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime.
The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that all 23 Malaysians in the GSF have been detained by Israel and will be deported via a third country. - Bernama
