Malaysia has begun to evacuate its students from Egypt which has been embroiled in turmoil since last Wednesday and saw the deaths of almost 1,000 of its citizens.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the estimated 3,300 Malaysian students currently in Egypt would be flown home on a voluntary basis, adding that the flights started last night.
He said the decision to evacuate the students was made based on the advice of the National Security Council.
“I have received a report from the NSC that the situation there may be headed towards uncertainty and for the worse. We will not delay in case the situation becomes more serious and dangerous.
“In whatever circumstance, we must prioritise our students’ safety,” Najib told reporters here yesterday.
The students, he added, would be put on commercial flights instead of C-130 military transport because that would involve more complex logistical arrangements.
Najib said he had also instructed Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss with Al-Azhar University on the rescheduling of examination dates for students who had chosen to return home.
“If there are other Malaysians on business in Egypt, they should return home at their own cost,” he said.
On the demand by PAS for a special parliamentary meeting to discuss Malaysia’s stand on the Egypt crisis, he said it was not necessary as Egypt considered it an internal matter.
Many Malaysian students still in Egypt had recently recounted violent incidents and bloody clashes near their residences.
Education Malaysia Egypt had also received confirmation from the Egyptian Deputy Education Minister that all repeat examinations scheduled this month had been postponed.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the estimated 3,300 Malaysian students currently in Egypt would be flown home on a voluntary basis, adding that the flights started last night.
He said the decision to evacuate the students was made based on the advice of the National Security Council.
“I have received a report from the NSC that the situation there may be headed towards uncertainty and for the worse. We will not delay in case the situation becomes more serious and dangerous.
“In whatever circumstance, we must prioritise our students’ safety,” Najib told reporters here yesterday.
The students, he added, would be put on commercial flights instead of C-130 military transport because that would involve more complex logistical arrangements.
Najib said he had also instructed Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss with Al-Azhar University on the rescheduling of examination dates for students who had chosen to return home.
“If there are other Malaysians on business in Egypt, they should return home at their own cost,” he said.
On the demand by PAS for a special parliamentary meeting to discuss Malaysia’s stand on the Egypt crisis, he said it was not necessary as Egypt considered it an internal matter.
Many Malaysian students still in Egypt had recently recounted violent incidents and bloody clashes near their residences.
Education Malaysia Egypt had also received confirmation from the Egyptian Deputy Education Minister that all repeat examinations scheduled this month had been postponed.
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