Govt to evacuate Malaysians in Iran this Friday, says Fahmi as Middle East tensions worsen
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today said the evacuation of Malaysians from Iran is under way, with all necessary arrangements already in place.
He said the Malaysians involved are expected to leave the Middle Eastern country by June 20.
'The number of Malaysians in Iran, including those working, studying, or travelling, is relatively small. The evacuation process is ongoing, with all required visas arranged,' he said during the ministry's weekly press conference here.
Last Friday, Israel launched multiple strikes on Iranian territory, reportedly killing several senior military officers and scientists.
In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles at various locations in Israel, resulting in several deaths and injuries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
20 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Khamenei vows Iran will ‘never surrender', warns US of ‘irreparable damage' as conflict with Israel deepens
TEHRAN, June 18 — Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today the nation would never surrender as demanded by President Donald Trump and warned the United States it would face 'irreparable damage' if it intervenes in support of its ally. The speech came six days into the conflict, with Trump demanding Iran's 'unconditional surrender' while boasting the United States could kill Khamenei and fuelling speculation about a possible intervention. The long-range blitz began Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to respond with missiles and drones. 'This nation will never surrender,' Khamenei said in a speech read on state television, in which he called Trump's ultimatum 'unacceptable'. 'America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage,' he said. Khamenei, in power since 1989 and the final arbiter of all matters of state in Iran, had earlier vowed the country would show 'no mercy' towards Israel's leaders. The speech followed a night of strikes, with Israeli attacks destroying two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran, according to the UN nuclear watchdog. 'More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours,' the Israeli military said, adding that several weapons manufacturing facilities were hit. 'As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development programme, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted.' Centrifuges are vital for uranium enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for reactors or, in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear warhead. The strikes destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme in Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. In another strike on a site in Tehran, 'one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested', the agency added in a post on X. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles at Tel Aviv. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. No missile struck Tel Aviv overnight, though AFP photos showed Israel's air defence systems activated to intercept missiles over the commercial hub. Iran also sent a 'swarm of drones' towards Israel, while the Israeli military said it had intercepted a total of 10 drones launched from Iran. It said one of its own drones had been shot down over Iran. 'Unconditional surrender' Trump fuelled speculation about US intervention when he made a hasty exit from the G7 summit in Canada, where the leaders of the club of wealthy democracies called for de-escalation but backed Israel's 'right to defend itself'. He boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Khamenei. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict. There was no immediate public statement after the hour and 20-minute meeting. US officials stressed Trump has not yet made a decision about any intervention. Evacuations Israel's attacks have hit nuclear and military facilities around Iran, as well as residential areas. Residential areas in Israel have also been hit, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens from both countries. Many Israelis spent another night disrupted by air raid warnings, with residents of coastal hub Tel Aviv repeatedly heading for shelters when sirens rang out warning of incoming Iranian missiles. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, perched at 800 metres (2,600 feet) above sea level and with a view over Tel Aviv, some residents gathered on rooftops and balconies to watch. An AFP journalist reported cheers and whistles as dozens of missiles flew overhead, with Israeli air defences activating to intercept them, causing mid-air explosions which lit up the sky. Since Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Netanyahu's office. Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then. Yesterday in Tehran, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as people rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies. Iran's ISNA and Tasnim news agencies today reported that five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had been detained, on charges of tarnishing the country's image online. Nuclear facilities After a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — an ambition Tehran denies. The UN nuclear watchdog said there appeared to have been 'direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls' at Iran's Natanz facility. Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 nuclear warheads. The conflict derailed a running series of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran saying after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate with the United States while under attack. — AFP
Malay Mail
34 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Revive reading to rebuild the nation, says PM Anwar
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysians to revive the spirit of reading, emphasising its crucial role in nation-building and advancing knowledge. He said without a commitment to lifelong learning through reading, the country cannot hope to compete globally or improve its command of language, knowledge and technology. 'We have inherited a proud and remarkable civilisation. It is our generation's responsibility to pursue knowledge diligently as well as shape values, character and integrity, to elevate the dignity of our people and our nation,' he said. Speaking at the opening of the Malaysia Madani Nationalism Seminar, themed 'Teachers as Catalysts of Patriotism', Anwar said reviving a reading culture is essential to producing well-informed, morally grounded citizens, a goal that requires unity, collective effort and a shared commitment to justice. He noted that simply distributing books is no longer enough to foster interest among younger Malaysians, who are increasingly drawn to social media. 'This is not a new problem,' he said, citing an American social critic, Allan Bloom, who warned as early as the 1980s, in his book The Closing of the American Mind, that interest in reading was already in decline. Anwar said that national pride should not be measured solely through material development, but also through enduring human values. 'We may achieve progress, but without a sense of humanity, it is incomplete,' he said. More than 1,000 educators attended the seminar, including retired teachers, teaching professionals from Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, as well as teacher trainees from the Teacher Education Institutes. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia (AKM) director-general Datuk Dr Roslan Hussin and Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud. — Bernama
BusinessToday
41 minutes ago
- BusinessToday
Johor–Singapore SEZ Gears Up To Be ASEAN's ‘Mini Korea'
Malaysia is pushing for the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) to go beyond traditional cross-border investments, aiming to position the bilateral zone as a regional high-tech manufacturing and innovation hub with global relevance. Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong told the Malaysia–Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce Business Forum that the JS-SEZ must not become 'merely a relocation of low-end manufacturing from Singapore to Johor,' but should instead serve as a platform for deep industrial integration and advanced production. The minister's remarks signal potential investment opportunities in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, renewable energy technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced materials; areas he said are now central to global competition. Liew said Malaysia and Singapore both maintain over 20% of GDP from manufacturing, a rare trait among semi-advanced economies, giving them a unique industrial base to leverage. He proposed a joint ecosystem capable of producing regional champions akin to Samsung, Huawei or TSMC, which could reshape Southeast Asia's role in global supply chains. 'Together, we can serve as a mini Korea in the global supply chain,' he said, pointing to collaborative value-add potential that goes beyond their geographical size. The business case also hinges on aligning financial markets and regulations with industrial policy. Liew highlighted the need for a 'robust financial ecosystem' that supports technology investments, signalling future roles for Malaysian capital markets and regulators like the Securities Commission to back industrial growth. His call for more strategic integration comes as firms reassess supply chains amid global uncertainty, with Malaysia and Singapore potentially benefitting from nearshoring and diversification trends. With formal JS-SEZ agreements signed earlier this year, industry players and investors will be watching closely for follow-up policies and incentives that translate political intent into bankable cross-border projects. Related
