KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is closely monitoring the evacuation operations of Malaysians from conflict zones in the Middle East following approval from the National Security Council (NSC) today.
The Prime Minister’s Senior Press Secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said the Prime Minister once again emphasised that the lives of every Malaysian are a top priority under all circumstances, especially in critical and uncertain situations.
“Taking advantage of the blessings of the month of Ramadan, the Prime Minister prays that the entire evacuation operation will be facilitated, proceed smoothly, and that all affected Malaysians can be safely brought home,” he said during a briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.
The MKN, in a statement on Monday, said the Malaysian government is now in the final phase of preparations to carry out the process of bringing Malaysians home from several countries affected by the Middle East conflict, following the escalating security situation in the region.
Tensions in the Middle East have intensified since February 28, following attacks by Israel and the United States (US) on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on US interests in Gulf countries.
According to records from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as of March 8, a total of 641 Malaysians remain stranded in several affected countries in the region, while 24,568 Malaysians have registered through the e-Consular system as of March 7.
