Aljazeera.net correspondents
kuala lumpur- Saima and Juliana work as waitresses in a coffee shop, and they are keen to pin the Palestinian flag on their clothes, saying that the aim of this is to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, in light of the war they have been subjected to for nearly a year.
Juliana added in an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net that this personal solidarity was welcomed by the shop’s patrons, located in a popular neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur, and she received appreciation from the managers of the company she works for and her colleagues.
Another colleague, who works in another branch of the company located inside the famous Petronas Twin Towers mall in Kuala Lumpur, said that showing solidarity with the Palestinian people by hanging the flag impressed many foreign tourists, and pointed out that the paper bracelets that wrap the cups and bear slogans of solidarity with Palestine sold out in a short time.
Leaders of the Malaysian popular movement confirm that the diverse creative programmes and continuous awareness of the Palestinian cause have kept it alive among ordinary Malaysians and maintained the momentum of popular support, which in turn has strengthened the government’s position demanding an end to the genocide committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, and the prosecution of the occupation leaders for their crimes.
Palestine is present
The CEO of Zeus Coffee, Vinon Tian, said that the company’s management decided to turn individual initiatives into an awareness campaign, and in turn joined the solidarity campaign with the Palestinian people, in cooperation with the Malaysian Advisory Council for Islamic Organisations (MABIM).
The campaign, which was launched last month, was called “One Million Cups of Coffee for Palestine.” Tian confirmed to Tel Aviv Tribune Net that the campaign, which began as an improvised and individual campaign, has turned into a public sentiment, and that the cooperation between his for-profit company and humanitarian institutions serves both parties in the long run.
As the CEO of Mapim, Thani Arabi, pointed out, the goal is to keep citizens in daily contact with the cause, through the message “Enjoy your coffee and stand in solidarity with Palestine.” An empty space has been added to the cup bracelet next to the Palestinian flag to write a note or signature.
Arabi denied adding any costs to the price of the cups that customers drink, or that the goal is to collect donations through what they buy, but rather they seek to have all of Malaysia associated with feelings that remind it of Palestine while drinking morning coffee.
Continuous spontaneous walk
Malaysian women also launched the “Walk for Palestine” initiative, in which they tried to avoid provoking the authorities, who require prior permission to organize public demonstrations. They called for showing solidarity in small groups wearing the keffiyeh and raising the Palestinian flag, and silently roaming the business district of Kuala Lumpur, which is frequented by many foreign and local tourists.
But large numbers are joining these groups that set out every Saturday evening to form a weekly solidarity march with Palestine. Activist Farouina Farouk says that she did not expect the idea of a quiet march for Palestine to turn into a march that includes hundreds.
Farwina insists that the march does not take the form of a demonstration that requires prior permission according to the law, but she says that this spontaneous gathering caused problems with the Malaysian police.
This initiative has spread to other cities such as Malaga, which is located on a strategic strait and where European colonialism continued for about four and a half centuries. Activists say that denouncing the Israeli occupation in this city carries a signal that “the occupation will end no matter how long it lasts or how powerful it is.”
Constant reminder of the issue
The Ikram Foundation chose another idea for solidarity, and agreed with a branch of the Chinese Chery car company to provide a tent for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip for every car the branch sells. The official at Ikram, Shahr Al-Aman Shaari, says that the idea “reminds the buyer, during his joy at receiving his new car, that there are brothers of his who are homeless.”
The Malaysian Mosques Association launched a campaign called “Malaysian Mosques for the Liberation of Al-Aqsa and Palestine.” The campaign held a conference on the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Mosque fire, attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and political and public figures.
Speakers at the conference considered that the imams and preachers of mosques in Malaysia do not lack awareness of the Palestinian cause or the status of Al-Aqsa, and that what they need is to participate in the work to liberate Al-Aqsa from their locations, and to coordinate efforts under one umbrella.
