21/05/2026

THURSDAY | MAY 21, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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Plan for virtual Palestinian museum

o Move aims to bring story of suffering, dignity and hope closer to Malaysians through establishment of platforms in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR: Behind every shattered home in Gaza today is a child learning to live with grief too heavy for his young heart to bear. As bombs continue to scar the Palestinian enclave, a quiet but determined effort is unfolding to preserve not only lives but also memories, dignity and hope for future generations. During a maiden visit to Malaysia, a delegation from the Palestinian organisation Taawon outlined two urgent missions – caring for thousands of orphaned children and bringing the story of Palestine closer to Malaysians through a virtual Palestinian Museum initiative in Kuala Lumpur. Taawon chairman Dr Nabil Qaddumi, who described Malaysians as steadfast supporters of the Palestinian cause, said the organisation hopes to forge strategic partnerships with Malaysian institutions and organisations. “Malaysian people are very supportive of the Palestinian cause. Taawon wants to leverage that support by working with like minded groups. Among the platforms identified are conferences, forums and exhibitions,” he said at Seri Negara on Tuesday. However, it was the staggering number of orphaned children in Gaza that cast the darkest shadow over its mission. Taawon director-general Tareq Emtairah said the genocide in Gaza since October 2023 had left 64,000 children orphaned, with more than half below the age of six. He said Taawon is currently caring for 20,000 of them. “They also need mental and psychological support because most of them wake up in fear because of

the sounds of bombing, and are very traumatised. Taawon will commit to supporting them until they reach 18.” He said for many of the children, nights are haunted by explosions and loss while mornings begin without parents to hold or comfort them. “Children are the most vulnerable group in Gaza. Taawon wants to create a safe environment for them so that they can grow up enjoying dignified living.” Tareq said Taawon signed an MoU with Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief last week to support welfare efforts for orphans. Beyond humanitarian aid, Taawon is also fighting another battle – preserving Palestine’s identity and history amid decades of displacement and occupation. Palestinian Museum director general Amer Shomali said the museum, which was built by Taawon in the West Bank, was opened in 2016. He said it was created to preserve and amplify the Palestinian narrative after their original national museum in Jerusalem was lost following Israeli occupation. “Our national museum was in Jerusalem but when Israel took over and occupied Jerusalem, they controlled and confiscated the museum and its collection. Years later, we opened this museum to try to fill the gap.” Amer said most of the Palestinian museum’s collection were looted in the past 78 years by Israeli soldiers. He described the museum as unlike any other in the world, one that many Palestinians themselves are unable to visit, Bernama reported. “Even our own people, the Palestinian diaspora all around the

Nabil (left) and Tareq viewing a photograph of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the gallery in Seri Negara during their visit. – BERNAMAPIC

world and those in refugee camps, have no right to visit Palestine and visit the museum. “Nevertheless, we keep travelling around the world to serve our community. “We are a unique museum. The museum travels more around the world than people visiting the museum. We travelled to Scotland, Japan and Mexico. “Now, we are in conversations with Malaysian organisations and galleries in exploring ideas to set up

The Taawon delegation also visited Seri Negara to learn about Malaysia’s own journey to independence – a visit that stirred both admiration and longing among the Palestinian representatives. Moved by the history housed within Seri Negara, the delegation expressed hope that one day Palestine would also have its own place to tell its story freely. “Hopefully one day, after the Occupation, Palestine will have its own Seri Negara,” said Amer.

something like a satellite Palestine museum in Kuala Lumpur,” said Amer. Among the ideas discussed was a virtual experience allowing Malaysians to walk through Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth while learning the stories behind the land and its people. “This is just Taawon’s first visit and there will be more visits. At the end of this year, there will be the Palestine-Kuala Lumpur Film Festival.”

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