Learn resilience from Palestinians, says NGO sec-gen

Free Malaysia Today

Cinta Gaza Malaysia secretary-general Umm Salamah Ahmad Shah recalls an 'eye-opening' experience during her visit to Gaza in 2013.   Some photographs and video clips featured in the video are sourced from Cinta Gaza Malaysia   Written by: Tan Chin Tung  Presented by: Natasha Busst  Shot by: Hizami Safri  Edited by: Ahmad Nujaid   Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/03/30/learn-resilience-from-palestinians-says-ngo-sec-gen/   Laporan Lanjut: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/03/30/pelajari-ketabahan-warga-palestin-kata-setiausaha-agung-ngo/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #FMTBeraya #CintaGazaMalaysia

Transcript

00:00Maybe it's because we are too complacent or too comfortable being in Malaysia

00:09and so we do not have another perspective of how people are in other parts of the world

00:16and how they are struggling and how their priorities in life are totally different from us.

00:23Umm Salama Ahmad Shah's visit to Gaza in 2013 was an experience she will never forget.

00:29It was an eye-opening lesson about resilience

00:32and how the power of hope can get people through the darkest times.

00:37They are really friendly, they are resilient.

00:41Even when I met small children, I brought with me a lot of candies.

00:47So I thought like okay let me give the children candies.

00:51This little boy, I think he was five to six years old, he said no I don't need that.

00:56So what do you want?

00:57In my mind, a five or six-year-old would want toys or something a small child would want

01:04and he said I want your dua.

01:07Just please make dua for me and for the people of Palestine.

01:12The Secretary-General of Cinta Gaza Malaysia was also stunned by their determination

01:17to treat guests with the utmost respect despite having endured relentless deadly conflicts.

01:24No you are our guest, they said.

01:26And so they shared the roti with me and then you don't need to pay.

01:32I felt bad a bit because I'm taking from somebody that I know needs it actually.

01:38But I still took it as an honour to them.

01:41Like we know that if we don't have much,

01:44at least if we can give a bit, it will give happiness to us.

01:48Following her visit to Gaza, Um Salama co-founded CGM with Nadir Al Nouri in 2014

01:54to provide emergency and consistent humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

01:59Over the years, its services have extended to Syria and the West Bank

02:03backed by thousands of volunteers from the Middle East and Malaysia.

02:08In March, it was reported that hundreds of Palestinians gathered for the first iftar of

02:12Ramadan amid the rubble of destroyed buildings, a heartbreaking but resilient sight.

02:17It was very messy there, the hygiene, you know.

02:21But it was not a hindrance for them to celebrate Ramadan with full of joy.

02:32It was very impressive because despite the lack of it,

02:35they still wanted to celebrate, to welcome Ramadan with a very happy mood.

02:46Although they know that maybe iftar is here, but iftar is probably not in the world.

02:50CGM's Strategy Executive Aida Munira Nur Azli called for everyone to remember the people of Gaza

02:57as Malaysians gathered to celebrate Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr.

03:01The issue of Palestine or the issue of Gaza is not only about Islam.

03:06It's about our humanity, our understanding of their politics.

03:11It's not limited to Islam.

03:13In that joy, we must remember that we still have brothers and sisters who need our prayers.

03:21For Shadi Salem, a Palestinian who arrived in Malaysia in September 2023,

03:26Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr has been an especially difficult time,

03:30with his wife and two children still in Gaza.

03:33However, despite his deep longing,

03:35Shadi found comfort in the festive spirit that lit up the Klang Valley.

03:39Living in Malaysia has made me see Ramadan and Eid in a completely different way.

03:45Here you can truly feel the warm atmosphere.

03:48People share joy with one another.

03:51Masjids are full and everyone celebrates with their families and loved ones.

03:56I realize how beautiful Ramadan and Eid can be when there is peace and stability.

04:04Natasha Biest and Tan Chin Tung, FMT

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