West Asia Conflict: Evacuated Malaysians Praise Govt For Bringing Them Home

SEPANG, March 11 (Bernama) -- The first group of Malaysians brought home on a special flight today after being stranded in several West Asian countries following the conflict in the region expressed relief and appreciation for the government’s initiative.

Logistics coordinator Mohd Tarmimi Tarmizi, 39, who was stranded in Doha after his original flight on March 7 was cancelled, said he travelled by bus for 23 hours across international borders to reach an alternative airport in Saudi Arabia.

“The logistics management by the Malaysian Embassy was outstanding, especially when the government decided to fully bear the cost of our return flight tickets,” he told Bernama while on the flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Malaysia.

Civil servant Mohd Idham Mohd Nor, 42, said he was stranded in Makkah after his return flight to Malaysia was cancelled, while his accommodation period had ended on March 7 and it was difficult to secure a new room due to the large number of umrah pilgrims.

“The swift action by the Malaysian mission in coordinating the registration and transportation of stranded pilgrims provided great relief to all of us amid these difficulties,” said Mohd Idham, who was among the 163 Malaysians and seven non-citizen family members on the repatriation flight.

Entrepreneur Radiah Hassan, 40, who was in the holy land with her two children, also expressed appreciation for the government’s initiative.

“Yes, thank you to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, to the consulate and the Malaysian government for helping bring all of us back home,” she said.

Radiah, who had been in Makkah since Feb 24, decided to return earlier following security advice from the Consulate General of Malaysia.

“The safety of my children is my priority. Although the situation in Makkah and Madinah is under control, the uncertainty over airspace security and the risk of being stranded for a long period were worrying if flights continued to be cancelled,” she said.

An umrah pilgrim, Hanizam Haron, 54, from Kuala Terengganu, said he and his sister Aznita, 51, were stranded for nearly a week after their return flight was cancelled.

Recounting his experience, Hanizam admitted he was initially worried when the conflict in the region erupted, especially at the prospect of not being able to return home in time for Aidilfitri.

However, he remained confident that the government would not leave Malaysians stranded during a crisis while they were in the Holy Land.

“So when the Malaysian government offered this flight, we took the opportunity immediately. I feel safer taking a flight arranged by the government,” he said when met after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 here.

Aznita also expressed relief and gratefulness for her return.

“At first we thought we might have to celebrate Aidilfitri there (in Makkah),” she said.

Another Malaysian, Mervin Gomez, 61, who works as a consultant for a private company in Doha, said he decided to return to Malaysia earlier due to the uncertainty in the region.

He said his journey from Doha to Jeddah by land transport and the special Malaysia Airlines flight went smoothly.

“From Doha we took a bus to Jeddah and everything was very well organised. Everything went smoothly without any problems.

“I would like to thank the Malaysian Embassy in Qatar and also in Saudi Arabia for helping arrange our journey to return safely to Malaysia,” he said.

In a statement, the National Security Council said they were brought home via a special Malaysia Airlines flight that arrived at KLIA at 12.48 pm.

Tensions in West Asia have escalated since Feb 28 following a series of Israeli and United States attacks on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel and US interests in the Gulf region.

-- BERNAMA