M'SIAN PM'S WIFE LIFTS SPIRITS OF MALAYSIAN AID MISSION VOLUNTEERS IN GAZA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Rosmah Mansor, wife of the prime minister,
Friday conveyed some words of encouragement over the telephone to boost the
spirits of the volunteers of a Malaysian humanitarian aid mission now in Gaza.

Rosmah, who is patron of the mission, was on the telephone for 10 minutes
with the leader of the mission, Putera 1Malaysia Club president Abdul Azeez
Abdul Rahim, who had called her at 9.35am at the prime minister's residence here
from the Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza.

Besides spurring the 67 mission members on, Rosmah advised them to be
mindful of their personal safety by obeying all regulations and not interfering
in domestic issues in the area of conflict.

"Do not interfere in any political issue because we are there to send aid to
the Palestinians in need. Other than that, I hope Azeez and our team will not
interfere (in the local politics) because I don't want our team to be trapped
in domestic complications," she told Abdul Azeez.

Rosmah said she and Prime Minister Najib Razak would always pray for the
safety of all humanitarian aid missions to Gaza, whether they are from Malaysia
or other countries, and hope that all of them return home safely.

Abdul Azeez informed Rosmah that despite having to undergo a longer fasting
period compared to Malaysia's, the volunteers were healthy.

He said he had made the call when the mission members were stationed at the
intensive care unit at Al-Quds Hospital to offer help and assistance to the
patients.

Abdul Azeez said they would make house-to-house visits to deliver food like
rice, sugar and coffee to the Palestinians later Friday.

"We will return home after delivering aid to 2,000 families, such as food
for a whole month, medical assistance and clothing for Aidilfitri. We will also
visit five mosques to deliver cash aid. InsyaAllah (God willing), we will return
home next week," he said. Aidilfitri is a Muslim celebration to mark the
culmination of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

The humanitarian mission, organised by Putera 1Malaysia Club, with the
cooperation of the Egyptian, Palestinian and Malaysian red crescent societies,
sees the participation also of 35 doctors of various races from Malaysia.

The 13-day mission, which began on Aug 8, is aimed at helping 2,000 families
in five settlements in the conflict area during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Syed Azwan Ali reports from Gaza City that the mission members
were touched by Rosmah's concern.

They said her words of encouragement would spur them on to go ahead with the
mission to distribute food, clothing, blankets and medicine to 2,000 families in
several settlements in Gaza.

"I feel proud. We will go ahead with the mission as best as we can," said
volunteer Mohd Tamizi Che Ros, 39, after Rosmah's telephone conversation with
Abdul Azeez at about 3.30am in Gaza.

Many of the volunteers were having their "sahur" (Ramadan pre-dawn meal)
when Abdul Azeez made the telephone call.
-- BERNAMA