AAKRP Receives RM10.35 Mln In New Contributions, Total Hits RM113 Mln

PUTRAJAYA, March 11 (Bernama) -- The Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) managed by the Foreign Ministry, has received an additional RM10.35 million in contributions from several government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and corporate bodies, bringing the total funds collected so far to RM113 million.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said of the total amount, RM86 million has been spent to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people without any operational cost deductions.

“The total funds now stand at RM113 million and of that amount, RM86 million has been spent on humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Today we received an additional RM10.35 million and the fund will continue to be managed prudently,” he said.

“The fund is managed by a committee chaired by the ministry’s secretary-general, and is also audited with periodic reports submitted to the Cabinet,” he told a press conference here today .

Mohamad said the latest contributors include Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Media Prima Bhd, Telekom Malaysia, Berjaya Corporation, Kuala Lumpur Kepong and Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad.

He said the funds are channelled to various international organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in humanitarian aid operations in Palestine.

Among them are the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Malaysian NGOs under the Ops Ihsan initiative.

Mohamad said the government had also recently approved an allocation of RM9.6 million to Ops Ihsan to be channelled to various NGOs carrying out humanitarian operations, including those with operations in Gaza.

He said the AAKRP remains open to receive contributions from the public, and donors can channel their contributions directly through the account details listed on the ministry’s website.

At the same time, Mohamad stressed that Malaysia will continue to voice its principled stand in supporting the Palestinian cause at the international level, including advocating the two-state solution to ensure Palestinians have their own state and government.

Malaysia also condemns crimes against humanity taking place in Gaza and the West Bank.

“Insya-Allah, Malaysia will continue to voice our position at the international level. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself has been very vocal in expressing Malaysia’s principled stand,” he said.

-- BERNAMA