Arab world should help people of Gaza - Dr Mahathir

The former prime minister said Arab nations - where Muslims made up the majority of the population - should give assistance to their neighbour which faced a myriad of difficulties, including transportation of food and medicines.

"It is very sad that the supply of food and medicine cannot enter Gaza but is stopped by Arab nations which border it," he said when met during a visit to the Pekan Rabu Complex here today.

Dr Mahathir noted the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation did not function to help the people of Gaza who had been under attack from the Israeli regime for a long time.

According to media reports, 172 Palestinians have been killed and 1,230 injured since Israel attacked Gaza under its 'Operation Protective Edge' launched on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir hoped a death threat made against his son, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz on social media several days ago, remained just a threat.

"I do not know if he (Mukhriz) has done something wrong, but as far as I know, he is only trying to serve the people...sometimes, even a person who is doing good will have enemies," he said.

Recently, more than 20 police reports were made by various parties against the owner of Facebook account 'Padi Jantan', demanding his arrest.

This followed a death threat against Mukhriz and the Kedah Sultan's Private Secretary, Datuk Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah on the Facebook account last Friday.

In connection with this, a 39-year-old man from Jalan Tambang Badak, Alor Setar, believed to be the owner of the Facebook account, was remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.

The man was detained by the police in Shah Alam, Selangor at 5.45pm yesterday.

In a separate development, Dr Mahathir welcomed the construction of a RM53 million Pekan Rabu Complex in November, which he said would be more conducive to local and foreign visitors.