A day before heading off for a mission to Gaza, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar launched a salvo at a PAS lawmaker for backing out at the last minute.

He had criticised Shah Alam MP from PAS Khalid Abdul Samad for pulling out from flotilla trip to Gaza from Greece after the latter claimed that the mission has been ‘hijacked' by Umno.

"I am disappointed that Khalid decided to make the trip look political just because the prime minister launched it last week. Just because of that, he concluded that Umno has hijacked the entire mission.

NONE"This is extremely shameful on Khalid's part. What's wrong with the PM launching? He's still the prime minister of all of us," Khairy (right) told Malaysiakini.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had launched the "International Humanitarian Flotilla II-Stay Human" mission organised by Lifeline For Gaza (LL4G) at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras last Saturday, announcing Khalid's name as one of the participants.

‘Specific agenda' torpedoes trip

However, just yesterday,Khalid told the PAS organ Harakahdaily that he has withdrawn his participation officially after much thought and prayer.

"It is becoming clearer that the mission has a specific agenda when the deputy PAS president Mohamad Sabu was stopped from giving a speech at the launching and that the organiser lied about it, as well as the withdrawal of Muslimcare, which the organisers also lied about.

orange book forum klscah 250111 khalid samad"If they are already lying at this stage, I don't know what is going to happen next," Khalid was reported to have said.

Khairy in response cited misunderstanding during the launch over who should be giving the speech, so both he and Mohamad had to cancel theirs because of time constraints.

"If Khalid (left) is sincere in wanting to help the Palestinian cause, why pull out just because the PM came to launch the event? It is shameful and it shows his arrogance and insincerity," said Khairy.

He also termed Khalid ‘irresponsible' for pulling out at the eleventh hour.

"This is an international mission and there were only 10 spots for Malaysia. Participants had to give their confirmation early for clearance and he just pulls out at the last minute.

"That's just irresponsible," said Khairy, adding that Khalid's spot is now taken up by a journalist.

The one-week mission will start from Athens, Greece and will see participation from 600 volunteers from 20 countries.

The flotilla, comprising 13 international vessels (10 passenger ships and three cargo vessels), will be ferrying medicines and construction materials for the Palestinians in Gaza.