FIRST BATCH OF 47 STUDENTS ARRIVE HOME FROM SYRIA

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The first batch of 47
Malaysian students arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
Tuesday from Syria, under a government move to get them out of the strife-torn
country.

The students arrived at 3pm, via Emirates EKO346 from Dubai.

Damascus Maahad Dauli student Mohd Affifudin Md Tahir, 22, said it was
tough to withdraw money from automated teller machines as the United States had
blocked financial transactions in Syria.

"We sought the help of students going to Lebanon or Jordan to carry out the
transactions for us," the first-year Arab and Syariah diploma student told
reporters upon arrival at KLIA here.

Damascus University Syeikh Ahmad Kiftaro Abu Nur student, Siti Hanisah
Rosli, 23, said prices of goods had soared and varsity entry fees doubled due to
the unrest.

She thanked Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) for delaying the return so they
could sit for their examinations.

Another student at the same university, Saiful Rahimi Mat Yusof, said 50
more students would return from Syria on Sept 29.
-- BERNAMA