KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have generously donated RM23 million to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) as of today.
The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the total amount received includes funds from corporate companies that pledged donations during the AAKRP Fund Donation Ceremony on Oct 19, 2023, at Sri Perdana.
The ministry said the first delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza is scheduled to be sent to Al Arish International Airport via a Malaysian-funded special chartered cargo flight on November 3, 2023.
Subsequent deliveries would be made via sea with details to be determined by the Ops Ihsan team.
"The delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza requires prior approval from the Egyptian government before being managed by the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, the sole implementing agency responsible for handling shipments through the Rafah-Gaza border entry point.
"In related developments, 50 metric tons of essential humanitarian aid worth RM7 million are ready to be sent to Gaza through Egypt.
"These goods were collected through the Ops Ihsan campaign by over 40 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on October 21 and 22," the statement reads.
Those who contributed to the fund however should expect delays in the issuance of official receipts due to the high volume of contributions received.
Donors can apply for income tax deductions under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act (ACP) 1967.
Those who wish to contribute may do so via https://shorturl.at/begq8 or bank transfer to CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad account 86-0030248-9.