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S’wak always in contact with Foreign Ministry on possible repatriation of students in Middle East — Premier

If the Foreign Affairs Ministry together with the Higher Education Ministry give the opinion that our students who are in the Middle East should be taken out, we will follow the instructions. Hence, we are waiting for advice from the Foreign Affairs Ministry whether the situation is dangerous or not.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg

KUCHING: The state government is in constant contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Sarawak Regional Office on the possible repatriation of students in the Middle East, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

However, he said there had yet to be guidance from the ministry regarding the move to bring Malaysian students, including those from Sarawak, back home amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“If the Foreign Affairs Ministry together with the Higher Education Ministry give the opinion that our students who are in the Middle East should be taken out, we will follow the instructions.

“Hence, we are waiting for advice from the Foreign Affairs Ministry whether the situation is dangerous or not,” he told reporters yesterday.

According to Abang Johari, many students from Sarawak are studying in countries such as Egypt and Jordan.

“We have them in Egypt and in Jordan, although I do not have an estimate of the number, but they are there. As for Syria, as far as I know, there is none, but there are many of us in Jordan and Egypt.”

Abang Johari was visiting Ministry of International Trade and Investment Sarawak’s advisor Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais and his wife Datin Sri Masnah Ahmad, who hosted a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Petra Jaya here, yesterday.

Bernama reported yesterday that the Higher Education Ministry would discuss with relevant parties regarding any further action following the current conflict in the Middle East, including the need, if any, to bring back Malaysian students from affected countries.

The ministry had said that based on current records, 1,872 registered Malaysian students are in Jordan, 37 in Syria, and eight in Iran, while no Malaysian students are known to be in Lebanon and Iraq.

On Saturday, Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel in retaliation for the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed 13 Iranian citizens.

Israel denied carrying out the consulate strike, but it is believed that they were behind the a ack.