M'sian's Need Not Worry Over Palestinian Lecturer's Killing

JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia) April 23 (Bernama) – Malaysians have been urged not to fret over the killing of a Palestinian lecturer believed to be linked to a country's intelligence organisation here, Saturday. Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the incident did not involve any Malaysian citizens, although the situation was still being monitored, adding a thorough investigation on the murder case was also underway. "Locals do not have to worry because it has nothing to do with them. Even if the case involves foreign agents, it does not concern our people. So don't worry," he told reporters after the 'Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat' programme here, Sunday. Nur Jazlan also did not rule out the possibility the case might be linked to the upheaval in the victim's home country, however, he declined to comment further as it was still being investigated. In the 6am incident Saturday, Palestinian lecturer and imam Dr Fadi Mohammed Al Batsh was shot to death as he was walking to a surau near a condominium in Jalan Meranti, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur to perform morning prayers. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also Home Minsiter, was reported as saying that the incident was believed to have been linked to an intelligence agency of country hostile to Palestine. Meanwhile, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM) president Abdul Aziz Abu Bakar when met by reporters at the Forensics Unit of the Selayang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur said Fadi was considered a martyr by many of his friends and family members. "This is because it has become a culture in Palestine to celebrate the martyrdom of their family members or acquaintances. "During the incident, he was on his way to the mosque to be an imam for the morning prayers. Even that is enough for us to consider him a martyr, and it does not necessarily be only in Gaza," he said. Fadi's body is at the hospital for a post-mortem. His brother is expected to arrive in Malaysia Sunday evening to claim his body and decide on funeral arrangements. -- BERNAMA