Kuala lumpur: The first group of Malaysians brought home on a special flight today after being stranded in several West Asian countries following the conflict in the region expressed relief and appreciation for the government's initiative.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, logistics coordinator Mohd Tarmimi Tarmizi, 39, who was stranded in Doha after his original flight on March 7 was cancelled, said he travelled by bus for 23 hours across international borders to reach an alternative airport in Saudi Arabia. He praised the logistics management by the Malaysian Embassy, highlighting the government's decision to fully bear the cost of their return flight tickets.

Civil servant Mohd Idham Mohd Nor, 42, recounted being stranded in Makkah after his return flight was cancelled and his accommodation period ended on March 7. He noted the difficulty in securing new lodging due to the influx of umrah pilgrims. Mohd Idham praised the swift action by the Malaysian mission in coordinating the registration and transportation for the stranded individuals, which provided significant relief during the crisis.

Entrepreneur Radiah Hassan, 40, who was in the holy land with her two children, echoed similar sentiments, thanking the Malaysian government for bringing them home. She had been in Makkah since Feb 24 and decided to return earlier following security advice from the Consulate General of Malaysia, prioritizing the safety of her children amidst concerns about airspace security and prolonged stranding.

Umrah pilgrim Hanizam Haron, 54, from Kuala Terengganu, shared his experience of being stranded for nearly a week with his sister Aznita, 51, after their flight was cancelled. Despite initial worries about the conflict, Hanizam remained confident in the government's efforts to ensure their safe return, expressing relief upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Another Malaysian, Mervin Gomez, 61, a consultant in Doha, chose to return earlier due to regional uncertainty. He described a smooth journey from Doha to Jeddah by land transport and the special Malaysia Airlines flight, expressing gratitude to the Malaysian embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia for their assistance in organizing the return.

The National Security Council confirmed in a statement that the evacuees were brought home via a special Malaysia Airlines flight that arrived at KLIA at 12.48 pm. Tensions in West Asia have escalated since Feb 28 following a series of Israeli and United States attacks on Iran, with Tehran's retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US interests in the Gulf region.