Released couple plan to continue holiday in Egypt

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian and her Australian husband will continue with their holiday in Egypt after they were released by a group of farmers which took them hostage.

Norbazrina Yazid Gilliland ( pic), 32, and her husband were visiting the Abu Simbel tourist site in southern Egypt when they were held for about four hours.

When contacted, her sister Norzalekha said the couple, who are based in Singapore, would continue with their holiday in Egypt to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.

“They are just tired after their ordeal. We’re keeping in touch with one another through Facebook and Twitter,” said Norzalekha, 30, a science teacher at an international school here.

Internet marketing manager Norbazrina tweeted on @rinayazid: “We are ok. Exhausted but ok. Resting in hotel room. Keeping cool and hydrated. I have smsed the Msian Embassy in Cairo.”

She also tweeted a link to an article on the incident that was published on Egypt News, saying dozens of farmers in the Abu Simbel area released 204 tourists they held hostage to demand for irrigation water.

It was reported that Norbazrina wrote on Facebook that a group of tourists were “being held hostage by Egyptian farmers for the past four hours” and that “the military was in negotiation with them”.

“We’re okay, just hot and bothered,” she wrote.

She later posted an update, saying that “we tried to escape but the police told us not to” and that “two groups escaped before us but we were held back”.

She said the group comprised 11 people.

“No guns but the farmers are not happy about something and we happen to be here,” she wrote.