Kuala lumpur: The government has, in principle, approved a plan to relocate or evacuate Malaysians from high-risk areas in the Middle East and can activate it at any time if the situation requires. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan stated that this approval allows the government to act promptly without needing a new Cabinet decision should the security situation in the region worsen.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the evacuation plan has been sanctioned by the Cabinet, and the government is prepared to implement it when necessary. The National Security Council (MKN), in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry and other agencies, is closely monitoring developments, with embassy offices remaining operational. Mohamad Hassan emphasized that there has not yet been a need to activate the plan, but the government is ready to proceed if required.

Mohamad advised Malaysians in the Middle East to avoid sensitive areas, including military bases, as these may become targets of retaliatory attacks, posing risks to their safety. He also urged those stranded overseas due to flight disruptions to update the Malaysian embassy on their travel status once they secure return flights. This information is vital for the government to ascertain the number of Malaysians still stranded and to coordinate assistance effectively.

The Foreign Minister also recommended that Malaysians planning to perform their umrah defer their plans due to the unstable security situation. The government, through the MKN, is assessing safety levels in the region and will provide daily updates on developments.

Additionally, Mohamad noted that the reopening of several airspaces in the Middle East has enabled flight operations to resume gradually, facilitating the return of stranded passengers. As of yesterday, 2,367 Malaysians remained stranded in various locations, including Jeddah, Qatar, Madinah, and Abu Dhabi.