GERAK media statement

PERGERAKAN  TENAGA  AKADEMIK  MALAYSIA  (GERAK)

MALAYSIAN  ACADEMIC  MOVEMENT  (MOVE)

http://blogakademikmalaysia.blogspot.com/

email: akademikmalaysia@gmail.com

MEDIA STATEMENT

27 April 2018

The academic community in Malaysia was shocked and angered with the early morning brutal murder of fellow academic, Dr. Fadi Al Batsh. We, the Malaysian academics, offer our condolence to the family of Dr Fadi. May they be strong and resolute in facing this test from Allah.

Dr. Fadi Al Batsh was a lecturer in electrical engineering at the University of Kuala Lumpur (UniKL). He got his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya where he was an outstanding student, winning scholarship and numerous awards. He continued with his research at UniKL, to include supervising postgraduate students.

Accusations have been made about his alleged involvement in the Palestine-Israel conflict, including being suspected to be involved in attack on Israel. However, even if these were true, although no evidence has been forthcoming, this does not justify any extrajudicial murder in a country not involved in the conflict. He should have been charged and tried in a competent court of law. Not mercilessly gunned-down, as he was.

While recognizing and supporting the peaceful resolution of the Palestine-Israel conflict, GERAK also strongly believes that Malaysia must stop being used as a battle ground for this and other conflicts. GERAK urged support for the Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions (BDS) campaign (http://bdsmalaysia.com/h/) to push both sides to make peace. We hope that such effort will help to end the injustice in the region and the unnecessary killings on both sides.