ID :
160294
Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/160294
The shortlink copeid
Lax Security Among Factors Leading To Evacuation Of Malaysians From Egypt
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The appalling lax in security, coupled
with a dire need of basic necessities in Egypt are among the main reasons why the government decided to evacuate over 11,000 Malaysians from the conflict-stricken country.
The prime minister's political secretary, Shahlan Ismail, said the
decision was made by Najib Tun Razak after receiving feedback from
the Malaysian Embassy in Egypt, and the monitoring team led by Deputy Foreign
Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay who was in Egypt for several days since Jan
29.
Shahlan is among members of the monitoring team, which also comprised
National Security Council (NSC) secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab
and representatives of the foreign ministry.
On Feb 1, Najib announced the decision to bring home all Malaysians
trapped in Egypt, following street demonstrations on Jan 25. Three days later,
the demonstrations worsened after Friday prayers as they were marked by bloody
clashes between the protestors and the police, and the torching of government
offices.
Speaking to Bernama, Shahlan said focus was not only on the demonstrations
at Tahrir Square, but also on the riots in Mansura, Cairo, Dumyat, Suez, Tanta
and Alexandria, as well as on the Egyptian Government's action to enforce daily
curfew from 5pm to 8am.
He said the weaknesses of the Egyptian authorities in tackling the street
demonstrations was a cause for worry as the lives of Malaysians were also at
stake.
The disruption of bank and business operations and the enforcement of fuel
rations are also among the factors taken into consideration by the government in
making the decision, besides the fact that the parents of Malaysian students in
Egypt were also pushing the government to take immediate action to bring their
children home, he said.
"Our team went to the ground to see what was happening and we have given our
report and suggestions to the prime minister to bring our students and people
home," he added.
He said Najib, soon after receiving the report from Mohammed Thajudeen, had
contacted Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia to get their cooperation to
evacuate the Malaysians from Egypt in a special operation dubbed 'Ops
Piramid'.
Shahlan said the prime minister also instructed Defence Minister Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi to prepare the military team to help in the operation,
besides deploying KD Bunga Mas 5 vessel, a multi-purpose vessel owned by the
Royal Malaysian Navy, in the Gulf of Aden.
Shahlan said that in Egypt, Kohilan, the Malaysian Embassy and other
members
of the monitoring team, began the process of evacuation of Malaysians,
especially students, by weaning information and current locations from them.
They also received help and assistance from various quarters, including Mara
in Alexandria and student leaders and agents in several branches of the
Al-Azhar University where most of the Malaysian students were pursuing their
studies.
"We worked very closely with them to enable us to identify the actual number
of Malaysian students and people in Egypt. It was not an easy task, though," he
said.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Thajudeen said NSC was responsible in identifying safe
zones
for the evacuation process.
He said this was vital to ensure that all Malaysian students and people in
Egypt would remain safe, especially during the curfew.
"When we want to ensure the safety (of Malaysians), the most important thing
to do is to gather them all in one place first. We cannot leave them in small
groups of two or three people," he said.
MAS foreign relations executive vice-chairman Captain Datuk Mohd Nawawi
Awang said, as soon as they received instructions to prepare special flights
to Cairo, many issues had to be managed by the company, including a decision on
the type of aircraft to be used, fuel requirement and the number of voluntary
cabin crew needed for the operation.
"Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), we managed to pull it off in a very
short notice and this is just part of our responsibility as Malaysian citizens,"
said Mohd Nawawi, who is also one of the pilots involved in the mission.
Relating his experience in landing the aircraft at Cairo International
Airport, he said he could not help but worry that the demonstrations might
spread to the airport.
"However, in the line of duty, I just have to focus on the flight to ensure
the safety of our people," he said.
In his blog Thursday, Najib expressed appreciation to all quarters involved
in rescuing the Malaysians from Egypt and bringing them home safely.
The prime minister also described 'Ops Piramid' as the epitome of the
1Malaysia spirit.
with a dire need of basic necessities in Egypt are among the main reasons why the government decided to evacuate over 11,000 Malaysians from the conflict-stricken country.
The prime minister's political secretary, Shahlan Ismail, said the
decision was made by Najib Tun Razak after receiving feedback from
the Malaysian Embassy in Egypt, and the monitoring team led by Deputy Foreign
Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay who was in Egypt for several days since Jan
29.
Shahlan is among members of the monitoring team, which also comprised
National Security Council (NSC) secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab
and representatives of the foreign ministry.
On Feb 1, Najib announced the decision to bring home all Malaysians
trapped in Egypt, following street demonstrations on Jan 25. Three days later,
the demonstrations worsened after Friday prayers as they were marked by bloody
clashes between the protestors and the police, and the torching of government
offices.
Speaking to Bernama, Shahlan said focus was not only on the demonstrations
at Tahrir Square, but also on the riots in Mansura, Cairo, Dumyat, Suez, Tanta
and Alexandria, as well as on the Egyptian Government's action to enforce daily
curfew from 5pm to 8am.
He said the weaknesses of the Egyptian authorities in tackling the street
demonstrations was a cause for worry as the lives of Malaysians were also at
stake.
The disruption of bank and business operations and the enforcement of fuel
rations are also among the factors taken into consideration by the government in
making the decision, besides the fact that the parents of Malaysian students in
Egypt were also pushing the government to take immediate action to bring their
children home, he said.
"Our team went to the ground to see what was happening and we have given our
report and suggestions to the prime minister to bring our students and people
home," he added.
He said Najib, soon after receiving the report from Mohammed Thajudeen, had
contacted Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia to get their cooperation to
evacuate the Malaysians from Egypt in a special operation dubbed 'Ops
Piramid'.
Shahlan said the prime minister also instructed Defence Minister Dr Ahmad
Zahid Hamidi to prepare the military team to help in the operation,
besides deploying KD Bunga Mas 5 vessel, a multi-purpose vessel owned by the
Royal Malaysian Navy, in the Gulf of Aden.
Shahlan said that in Egypt, Kohilan, the Malaysian Embassy and other
members
of the monitoring team, began the process of evacuation of Malaysians,
especially students, by weaning information and current locations from them.
They also received help and assistance from various quarters, including Mara
in Alexandria and student leaders and agents in several branches of the
Al-Azhar University where most of the Malaysian students were pursuing their
studies.
"We worked very closely with them to enable us to identify the actual number
of Malaysian students and people in Egypt. It was not an easy task, though," he
said.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Thajudeen said NSC was responsible in identifying safe
zones
for the evacuation process.
He said this was vital to ensure that all Malaysian students and people in
Egypt would remain safe, especially during the curfew.
"When we want to ensure the safety (of Malaysians), the most important thing
to do is to gather them all in one place first. We cannot leave them in small
groups of two or three people," he said.
MAS foreign relations executive vice-chairman Captain Datuk Mohd Nawawi
Awang said, as soon as they received instructions to prepare special flights
to Cairo, many issues had to be managed by the company, including a decision on
the type of aircraft to be used, fuel requirement and the number of voluntary
cabin crew needed for the operation.
"Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), we managed to pull it off in a very
short notice and this is just part of our responsibility as Malaysian citizens,"
said Mohd Nawawi, who is also one of the pilots involved in the mission.
Relating his experience in landing the aircraft at Cairo International
Airport, he said he could not help but worry that the demonstrations might
spread to the airport.
"However, in the line of duty, I just have to focus on the flight to ensure
the safety of our people," he said.
In his blog Thursday, Najib expressed appreciation to all quarters involved
in rescuing the Malaysians from Egypt and bringing them home safely.
The prime minister also described 'Ops Piramid' as the epitome of the
1Malaysia spirit.
