KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — The government is making preparation to evacuate 220 Malaysians living in Iran and Iraq following the latest conflict in the region, said Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
He said the matter was decided in a special meeting yesterday between the ministry and various agencies, including the National Security Council, Defence Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry and Prime Minister’s Department.
“We are making preparations in case there is a need for evacuation. Currently, there are 58 Malaysians in Iran, half of whom are students.
“In Iraq, we have 162 with the majority of them Petronas staff and several lecturers,” he told reporters after joining Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during a visit to SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1, Pusat Bandar Puchong.
The ministry has instructed embassies near the conflict zones to be on standby for possible evacuation, Saifuddin said.
“To those residing in the said countries, please keep in touch with the embassies,” he said while asking Malaysians at home to defer non-essential trips to the region.
— Bernama
