NORTHERN STATE GOVT LAUNCHES RM1 MLN FUND FOR PALESTINE

IPOH (Malaysia), Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The northern state of Perak government Saturday launched a RM1 million fund for Palestine and called on the people of the state to boycott United States-made products.

Perak Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said he hoped
the 2.4 million people in the state would donate generously to the fund to help
Palestinians who were facing a humanitarian crisis following Israel's invasion
of Gaza, which to date has claimed over 700 lives, mostly civilians and
children.

"Israel's crimes against Palestinians has the tacit backing of the US. We
must send a strong message to the US that we will not stand by and watch it
support Israel's atrocities in Gaza," he told reporters after opening the
Perak-level International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in this
capital city of the state.

He added that special teams would also be formed to provide the people of
the state the latest information on the plight of the Palestinians.

A total of RM127,000 was collected from about 5,000 people who turned up to
support the event. (US$1=RM3.60)
-- BERNAMA