28 NGO hand over a memorandum to New Zealand High Commission

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KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 28 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) yesterday handed over a memorandum regarding the recent terrorist attack incident in Christchurch, New Zealand to the New Zealand High Commission for Malaysia, at Menara IMC, here.

The memorandum, noting their concern and solidarity, was handed by the representative of the NGOs Mohamad Zaidi Nordi, who is a spokesperson of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) to the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern through New Zealand High Commissioner Designate to Malaysia, Hunter Nottage.

Mohamad Zaidi said they strongly condemned the unprecedented incident and called for the New Zealand government to take measures to curb the far right nationalist extremism and white supremacist ideology and not to grip the peace of its state.

“It is not merely a criminal act but a terrorist attack on a particular community,” he told reporters after giving the memorandum to Nottage.

Other than MAPIM, among the NGOs that penned the memorandum were Secretariat for Ulama Assembly of Asia (SHURA), Alliance of World Masjid in Defence of Masjid Al-Aqsa (MANAR) and Malaysia Relief Agency (MRA).

Mohamad Zaidi said among the highlighted contents in the memorandum was to urge New Zealand government to prevent the Islamophobia and anti-Muslim campaign from becoming prevalent among the New Zealanders and to embrace a policy of peaceful co-existence.

“Combat any move to inculcate the culture of hatred against Muslims and Islam prevailing in the world today which has produced this large-scale murder of people praying in the mosques,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nottage said the memorandum would be sent to the New Zealand Prime Minister, as soon as possible.

“This powerful letter from all of the 28 NGOs will be sent back to our Prime Minister immediately and this is our focus right now,” he said.

According to media reports, the mass shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Mosque which occurred during Friday prayers or at 1.40 pm local time (8.40 am Malaysian time) on March 15, had claimed the lives of 50 people and injured more than 40 people.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue about the situation at the two mosques, Nottage said currently security measures would be a priority for the authorities to ensure the safety of all communities living nearby the mosques. — Bernama