Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang who hoisted the 'Save Gaza' message on the gloves he wore yesterday after passing the finish line in Glasgow's Commonwealth Games is a people's hero and a champion for humanity, an Islamic NGO said today.

Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) said Azizulhasni (right) represented all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, and rightly condemned Israel for its recent shelling of Gaza.

However, Azizulhasni was reported by New Straits Times (NST) as saying that he had agreed to apologise to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which earlier faulted him for his protest in front of television cameras.

He sent the message with his gloves after beating England's Philip Hindes to seal a quarter-final berth at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Calling Israel a "Zionist terrorist regime", Abim president Amidi Abd Manan said CGF should reconsider its unfair reprimand.

"The Commonwealth Games organisers should be proud of Azizulhasni's act, which showed solidarity with the Palestinians.

"Gaza is not a normal political conflict but is the worst violation of human rights.

"There is no worse record as Israel in observing basic human rights, to kill without compassion and seize Palestinian land," Amidi (left) said.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier today he was appalled by an attack on a UN-run school in the Gaza strip that killed civilians, including children, and UN staff.

Yesterday, Israeli forces shelled the school sheltering Palestinians, killing at least 15 people and raising the conflict's death toll to nearly 750.

'Humanitarianism the purpose of sports meets'

In his statement today, Amidi said Azizulhasni had also picked the right avenue to speak up for humanitarianism as this was also the purpose of sport meets.

He then urged all Malaysians to proudly stand behind Azizulhasni.

Meanwhile, NST Online reported Malaysia chef-de-mission Ong Poh Eng as saying he had spoken to Azizulhasni after the incident and the champion cyclist had agreed to apologise to CGF and promised not to repeat the action.

With this, Ong said, the matter was considered resolved and Azizul would be able to compete in the race for gold today.

Also today, Azizulhasni acknowledged on his Facebook page that he received a warning but can still race today, but without his 'Save Gaza' gloves.
 
"I feel sorry for the people who misinterpret my message. There's no such thing with political protest. It's from the bottom of my heart to express humanitarian.
 
"Since when expressing humanitarian is considered as political?" he wrote.
 
But in the same message he also apologised to his detractors, not wanting to offend anyone.

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