'Many thought Iran was evil — now they show support,' says Malaysian content creator

New Straits Times

6 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian woman with family ties in Tehran says the recent Israel-Iran conflict left her worried for her in-laws' safety and struggling to stay in contact during the height of the missile strikes.
Norazryana Mat Dawi said the missile exchange between the two countries in April was a deeply stressful experience for her and her family.
The 40-year-old Johorean,who is married to an Iranian and currently resides in the Czech Republic, considers Iran her second home.
"I couldn't believe it was really happening. For 17 years I've been part of the Iranian community, and we always talked about the possibility of war. When it finally happened, it was heartbreaking." she told the NST.
Her husband's family lives in Tehran, one of the areas affected during the 12-day conflict.
Although the strikes did not directly hit their home, the situation left the family anxious and on edge.
"They were terrified. The attacks happened while they were asleep. Although the missiles weren't near their area, the sound of the explosions woke them," she said.
The first three days were the most worrying, as her in-laws could not leave Tehran due to heavy traffic and road congestion.
They eventually managed to relocate to their second home in northern Iran on the fourth day.
Norazryana said communication also became difficult when the Iranian government restricted internet access due to fears of cyberattacks.
"From day six to nine, we lost contact for a few hours. Iran only allowed access to their local intranet. Incoming international calls were blocked, and we couldn't get updates from Iranian media or our family," she said.
She and her husband resorted to using a locally developed Iranian messaging app, although the internet speed was poor.
A landline call from her in-laws finally reassured them that everyone was safe.
As a content creator who regularly shares updates about Iran, Norazryana said the conflict changed how Malaysians view the country.
"Before this, many were sceptical and thought Iran was evil. But after the conflict, especially after Iran responded to Israel, I noticed more Malaysians showing sympathy and support," she said.
She hopes more people will understand the hardship ordinary Iranians face under international sanctions.
"There are over 90 million people in Iran who just want a normal life.
"They are struggling with high inflation and a weak passport. This conflict has only made things harder," she said.
International political observer Nasaie Ismail said the April missile strikes placed Malaysians in Iran at potential risk, as key cities like Tehran and Isfahan where most students, workers, and businesspeople live, were among the targeted areas.
"This naturally raises concern for any Malaysian residing in or travelling to these high-risk zones," he said.
He added that while a ceasefire was eventually declared, trust remains fragile.
"Iran sees itself as the victim in this conflict. Even though the United States and Israel have signalled a desire to de-escalate, Iran is hesitant to accept any ceasefire without clear and fair conditions," Nasaie said.
Nasaie noted that Iran's domestic unity has strengthened post-conflict, and he expects the country's internal situation to become more stable in the coming months.