KUALA LUMPUR: It is still fresh in his mind, fresh as the taste of the kebab that lingers for Lieutenant-General Datuk Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh who was in Turkiye in the Op Starlight mission to build the Malaysian Field Hospital (HMM) after the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Feb 6.

The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Health Services director-general said that though it was just a roadside kebab, it was the mantelpiece of many moving stories about the people of Turkiye who seemed eternally grateful for the presence of 106 medical personnel on the humanitarian frontline.

Recalling the episode, Dr Zulkeffeli who just returned to Malaysia two days ago, said he and his team were shuttling from Gaziantep, one of the worst-hit areas at ground zero, to HMM in Adiyaman and decidedly stopped at a kebab stall.

On learning that the team was from Malaysia, the kebab seller refused to accept a single lira, despite their own utter desolation, devastated by the earthquake that has swallowed tens of thousands of lives so far.

"They would say 'thank you' in any way imaginable. Turkiye people welcomed our presence. Although our contribution is small, the government's initiative to send a medical team paints a picture of boundless brotherhood that we will help in times of trouble regardless of national borders," he told Bernama.


In addition, he and his team were also visited by a troop of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Cappadocia about 500 km from Adiayaman, who came to HMM to personally express their appreciation to the Malaysian team involved in the mission.

"Even from the time of our touchdown at Istanbul airport when we were about to pray, there was this elderly gentleman praying in profuse supplication for our team so that our aid mission would face no obstructions. There were also Umrah pilgrims just landed from Makkah who gave us bread, MasyaAllah," he said.

The Malaysian team also received help from various NGOs and individuals who offered services such as translation, providing petrol for generator sets, special hats for winter, food and much more.

In order to facilitate matters, he said the Malaysians also cooperated with the Turkiye medical team in the aspect of referral and information exchange, besides there also being a medical representative from Turkiye stationed at HMM to convince local residents to seek treatment at HMM.

"There were also NGOs descending on the villages to bring patients in need of treatment to us. We were in effect acting as a referral hospital, considering that there is an existing hospital nearby but was affected by the earthquake," he said.


Dr Zulkeffeli also commended all the MAF personnel and medical officers who remained highly spirited in the face of adversity like the freezing temperatures, rudimentary shelter and lack of wintry clothing to face the bitter chill.

"I am very proud of those who gave their full responsibility and strength to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkiye," he said.

Yesterday, Op Starlight 2 commander, Brigadier-General Datuk Dr Amran Amir Hamzah said the HMM operating in Celikhan, Adiyaman, located about 152 km from Gaziantep, has treated a total of 164 patients including expectant mothers and children since it opened on Feb 14.

The HMM has a capacity of 60 beds and is equipped with an operating theatre, intensive care unit (ICU), radiology and laboratory facilities to help earthquake victims.

It also provides nine specialties, namely primary medicine, orthopaedics, surgery, anesthesia, maxilo-facial surgery (dealing with re-construction of face, head, neck, jaw, sinus problems), obstetrics and gynecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology (eye-related treatment) and emergency care.

-- BERNAMA