Last journey back to Gaza via Cairo.
The convoy carrying the remains of assassinated Palestinian scientist and iman Fadi Albatsh arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Mas Cargo Terminal at about 3.10pm yesterday, accompanied by two Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) outriders and six vehicles, including one which ferried Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Dr Anwar H al-Agha.
The convoy was also carrying Dr Fadi’s widow, Enas Albatsh, 31, his two daughters, Doaa, six, and Aseel, four, and one-year-old son, Mohamad.
It is learnt that the remains of the electrical engineering lecturer, accompanied by his family members, were en route to Cairo, Egypt, by air at 7pm and would arrive in Gaza by land.
Close friends, embassy officials and students of the late lecturer were seen going in and out of Selayang Hospital’s forensic unit yesterday morning, prior to his body being released.
Fadi’s younger brother, Rami Albatsh, who arrived from Germany on Sunday evening, was there to facilitate the process of flying his body back to Gaza through Egypt.
Palestinian embassy officials were also present to assist in the release process as well as to pay their last respects to the slain lecturer.
Fadi’s body was taken to Surau Medan Idaman in Taman Setapak at about 12 noon where a congregation of 2,000 people gathered to perform the funeral prayers.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said that those behind the killing of Fadi might still be in the country.
He said it was difficult to track down the assassins because they were believed to have used fake identification documents to slip into the country.
Police also released a photograph of one of the suspects.
It was reported that the photo was obtained following the discovery on Tuesday of a motorcycle, believed to be a Kawasaki with the registration number BKJ 413, that was used by the killers and abandoned near a lake about nine minutes from the scene of the murder.
“We managed to get the image of one of the suspects after the motorcycle abandoned by the two men following Saturday’s assassination was found at Tasik Danau Kota,” Fuzi said.
Police had previously released two computer-generated photo-fits showing two men with beards.
Fadi, a member of Islamist organisation Hamas, was shot dead outside the Idaman Puteri condominium in Setapak while walking to the Medan Idaman surau to perform the subuh prayers at 6am on Apr 21.
It was reported that two men waited in the dark for 20 minutes before firing 10 shots in the direction of the victim, killing him instantly.
One of the motorbikes they were allegedly riding was found abandoned on Tuesday, not far from where the assassination took place.
Family and friends of the 35-year-old have accused Israel’s Mossad spy agency of carrying out the killing but the Jewish state has denied the claims.
The slain Palestinian’s widow will be returning home for good and will be completing her PhD studies.
Speaking to reporters through a translator, Enas, who was deeply saddened by her husband’s demise, said she had enrolled for a PhD programme with Universiti Malaya’s Education Faculty and would continue her studies online.
“I remember my husband saying, ‘you have been patient waiting for me to finish my PhD, and I will wait for you to continue yours’. He insisted on that, for me to complete my studies,” she said.
Enas described her husband as a very kind and caring man who lived his life positively.
“He was an optimistic person who positively affected those around him,” she said.
Rami, 28, described his late brother as an amazing and kind-hearted person, and a teacher to everyone around him.
He had only harsh words for those who killed his beloved brother.
“The culprits should be taken to justice and face the worst possible punishment,” he said.
He said Fadi, a man who had memorised the Quran, was just a normal man and was loved by everyone.
“It’s just unthinkable that he was capable of hurting others so much so that it would lead to his murder,” he said.
He also rubbished claims that Fadi was capable of making rockets.
Earlier reports:
Apr 24, Cops Release Photo-Fits of Alleged Assassins of Palestinian Lecturer
Apr 22, Man in Viral Photo Not Palestinian Lecturer’s Killer