Old school SMS becomes lifeline as Iran blocks roaming, WhatsApp amid escalating tensions, says Malaysia's ambassador
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025
Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: A total of 24 individuals, including 17 Malaysians, who were evacuated from Iran following escalating conflict in the country, have safely returned home. — Bernama pic SEPANG: As tensions in Iran escalated following Israel's retaliatory strikes, residents in the country were forced to rely on the old-school Short Message Service (SMS) to stay in touch with family members and relevant parties. Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, said roaming services in the country, including WhatsApp, are currently blocked. 'In Iran, SMS communication is still open between local Iranian numbers. Domestically, people can still stay in touch. However, if we try to call an Iranian number from here, it won't go through, as roaming services have been shut down. But calls from Iran to outside the country are still possible. So, we've resorted to the old-fashioned way, text messages, which not many people use anymore. 'WhatsApp messages and similar platforms were completely inaccessible, though I believe some access is gradually returning, but still tightly controlled to ensure that sensitive information related to security issues isn't leaked,' he spoke to reporters last night. He arrived from Iran with a group of 24 individuals, comprising 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens, and one Singaporean. Khairi said the situation in Iran was volatile, with both foreign nationals and locals equally shocked by the severity of the attack, which he described as drastic.
Advertisement 'After a day or two, we began to observe a pattern in the attacks. They were more intense at night, while during the day, it seemed as though both sides had come to a mutual understanding to scale back the assaults. 'As we all know, they already identified the targets, and if one side launched a strike on certain facilities, the other side would respond. But we were always on high alert because if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could easily find yourself in a situation you definitely wouldn't want to be in,' he said. The government ordered the temporary closure of the Malaysian Embassy in Iran, instructing all embassy personnel in the country to return home immediately. Meanwhile, a trader, Fadhil Yusni, 33, expressed his gratitude at being reunited with his wife, Zainab Ganood, an Iranian national who was visiting her parents. 'I panicked because I couldn't reach my wife. Alhamdulillah, tonight I feel grateful. Thank you to the government and the Foreign Ministry for evacuating my wife out of Iran,' he said, adding that he is now finding the best way to help his wife's family leave the conflict-stricken country safely. Tensions erupted on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on several locations across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to retaliate. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
Beijing expresses concern over major trade routes through Gulf
BEIJING (dpa): Beijing called on Monday for the international community to work towards de-escalation of the Iran crisis, given the risk of a blockade of the Straits of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China was also calling on the international community to prevent instability in the region from spilling over into the global economy. The Gulf and the surrounding waters are an important international route for freight and energy, he said. Maintaining security and stability in the region is in the interest of the international community, Guo said. Iran's parliament has backed closing the vital strait through which much of the world's crude oil and gas pass in response to the bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities by the United States over the weekend. China is a major economic partner of Iran, drawing much of its crude oil from the Middle Eastern country. Beijing also stands accused of providing Iran with goods important for military and civilian purposes. - dpa
The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
Chief Justice: No news on tenure extension
KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on Monday (June 23) reiterated that there has been no update regarding the extension of her tenure, as well as that of two other judges. They are Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who holds the second top post in the judiciary and Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan. "No news,' she responded briefly when asked after launching a book titled "Law and Practice of Intellectual Property Law in Malaysia', authored by nine individuals, here on Monday. Tengku Maimun, the first woman to serve as the country's top judge, is scheduled to go on mandatory retirement on July 1. She will turn 66 on July 2. Abang Iskandar is due to retire on July 2, while Nallini will reach the mandatory retirement age on Aug 22. Under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution, Federal Court judges may serve until the age of 66, with the possibility of a six-month extension subject to the approval of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. On May 20, Tengku Maimun confirmed that she has yet to receive any offer for a six-month extension of her tenure.- Bernama
Barnama
30 minutes ago
- Barnama
No News On Tenure Extension, Says CJ
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat today reiterated that there has been no update regarding the extension of her tenure, as well as that of two other judges. They are Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who holds the second top post in the judiciary and Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan. 'No news,' she responded briefly when asked after launching a book titled 'Law and Practice of Intellectual Property Law in Malaysia', authored by nine individuals, here today.
