the Malaysians would first be evacuated to a country near Egypt, possibly Jordan or Saudi Arabia, before being taken back to Malaysia on board the ship.
an option would be used as a contingency plan to bring them home, adding that military assets would be on standby for deployment.
“The five-member team which flew to Egypt on Monday night have arrived into monitor the situation and decide if the Malaysians studying and working there should be evacuated immediately...
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay is leading the team, which comprises officers from the National Security Council and Higher Education Ministry.
“The ship, which can accommodate about 500 students on its deck, is expected to arrive at the Port of Adabiya on Saturday.” The prime minister said he had discussed with Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman about asking Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia to make special flights to Cairo to also bring Malaysian students home.
“They (MAS and AirAsia) will inform me today on the possibility of using their aircraft for the mission.” Najib said the government would also try to bring the students to Jeddah and to temporarily house them at the Tabung Haji Centre there until flights were available for them to return to Malaysia.
However, he added, some matters had to be sorted out first like the students’ v i s a s.
“The government is, therefore, communicating with the Saudi Arabian government for our students to be allowed to be brought to Jeddah.” Najib said the government would provide more information on the matter to the students and their parents today.
Kohilan said Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft would also be used to bring Malaysian students out of Egypt to neighbouring countries in stages. He said the aircraft would also be used to transport foodstuff and drinks to the students.
Kohilan, who is now in Egypt to monitor the situation, said the Malaysia Abbasiyah Hall, houses owned by Malaysian state governments in Cairo, and Mara House in Alexandria, had been turned into safe houses for students and other Malaysians in Egypt.
“To ensure their safety and daily needs are met, the government has upped the security and sent food and other necessities to these places.” He and Sahlan had earlier met officers of the state government houses and Malaysian students’ representatives and found them to be safe and in good spirits.
Sahlan said until yesterday, 150 Malaysian students and other Malaysians stranded since last Saturday had flown home at their own expense via Oman, Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam.
He also advised Malaysians, including the students’ parents, to postpone any trips to Egypt.
In Sepang, the turmoil in Cairo has affected direct flights from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to the Egyptian capital.
Last night, a Cairo-bound Egyptair flight from KLIA was cancelled.
A spokesperson for the company at the airport said they were now making arrangements with other airlines to transport the passengers via other cities including Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
A group of journalists and crew members of Media Prima, who were supposed to board a 12.30am Egyptair flight, had to take an Emirates Airlines flight at 2am under an arrangement made by the Egyptian carrier.
Egyptair is the only carrier here which runs direct flights four times a week to Cairo out of KLIA.
Meanwhile, agencies reported that Egyptair cancelled all domestic and international flights between 3pm and 8am — the hours of the Egyptian government-imposed curfew — starting Monday. — Bernama
hohoho... i hope it is possible to bring all the malaysian students going back home since it does not show any sign to stop the egypt unrest.... better they are all here for the sake of their life ...
we dont know when it gonna to stop.. ONLY ALLAH SWT KNOWS THAT...
we all plan.. by HE determined it...
nevertheless...
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