2,000 turn up at surau to bid farewell to slain lecturer
KUALA LUMPUR: The atmosphere at Surau Medan Idaman in Setapak here was sombre as friends, students and family paid their last respects to slain Palestine lecturer Dr Fadi M.R. Albatsh yesterday.
Two thousand friends and wellwishers attended a special prayer, which would be the last farewell here before Fadi’s remains were flown back to his home in Jabalia, north of Gaza, on the 7pm Egypt Air flight from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.
His remains, which were claimed by his younger brother, Dr Rami Albatsh, 31, from the Selayang Hospital mortuary, were taken to his house at Idaman Puteri Condominium before being carried to the surau 100m away.
A congregation of more than 100 people marched with Fadi’s coffin, covered with a Palestinian flag.
Fadi’s remains arrived at the surau at 1.10pm, where 2,000 people gathered to bid their last farewell. After the prayers at 1.40pm, his remains were transported in a hearse to KLIA.
His wife and their three children, as well as Rami, accompanied the remains, which are expected to reach Cairo Airport in Egypt today at 9am local time.
It is learnt that Fadi’s parents and siblings will receive them at Cairo Airport before they embark on a five-hours journey on land to Gaza.
Humanitarian Care Malaysia chief executive officer (MyCare) Kamarul Zaman Shaharul Anwar said two representatives from MyCare would join the family to ensure that everything proceeded smoothly during the journey from Cairo to Rafah, and subsequently to Gaza, where Fadi would be buried.
“We have the Egyptian authorities’ approval to bring him home and do not foresee any complications. However, the situation on the ground remains uncertain.
“If everything goes as planned, they should reach Gaza in five to six hours,” he said, adding that the victim’s wife and three children would stay in Gaza.