KUALA NERUS – Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (Unisza) lecturer Professor Dr Mohd Afandi Saleh’s son shares his father’s final words before the vessel carrying humanitarian mission members to Gaza was attacked by Israeli forces.
Adam Afandi, 20, said his father had left several reminders for the family before departing, including to take care of his mother and manage the family vehicle while he was away.
“Two days before leaving, my father advised me to take care of my mother and manage his car.
“Before departing, he hugged my mother and told her to stay strong.
“My mother cried because she found it hard to let him go, but my father said that this mission was very important for the people of Palestine,” he said when met at Unisza on Thursday.
Adam, a first-year Bachelor of Law student at Unisza, said the last time they spoke was during a video call on Tuesday night at around 9.30pm.
He said the vessel his father was aboard was attacked on Wednesday morning local time while taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition – Thousand Madleens to Gaza (FFC-TMTG) humanitarian mission.
“My father said, insya-Allah everything will be fine and asked us to pray for their safety. But at that moment, I could already see my mother becoming sad.
“The last message we received through the family WhatsApp group was around 10.30am, which read, ‘We may be under attack now,’ along with a video showing darkness in the middle of the sea.
“After that, we have not been able to contact my father until now,” he said.
Adam recalled that his father had also participated in a humanitarian mission to Gaza in 2018 as Malaysia’s sole representative.
He said his father went alone previously but returned home safely. Hence, he was confident that the government would do its best to bring everyone home safely this time.
He added that he trusted the Malaysian government and humanitarian organisations to ensure the safety of all nine Malaysian representatives involved.
“This year, I felt calmer because there were many Malaysian delegates participating and the government also gave full support.
“But when something like this happens, there is still sadness thinking of my father who is now detained there.
“I believe the government will assist just as they helped in the previous Global Sumud Flotilla mission.
“My only hope is that my father and his friends will return home safely,” he said.
Earlier reports stated that nine vessels involved in the mission were intercepted by Israeli forces less than 120 nautical miles from Gaza at around 10.50am on Wednesday, Malaysian time.
In a statement, Unisza expressed its prayers and full support for the Faculty of Law and International Relations (FUHA) lecturer.
The university described him as a scholar and educator who has long demonstrated deep concern for global humanitarian issues.
His participation, it said, reflects Unisza’s commitment to supporting worldwide efforts for peace, justice and universal humanity.