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South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysian evacuees' 1,000km escape from conflict-torn Iran
As night gave way to day along Iran 's uncertain highways, a convoy of Malaysians pressed eastward from the capital, racing against the spectre of violence to reach the safety of the Turkmenistan border. The evacuation of 17 Malaysians from conflict-hit Iran unfolded as a day-long odyssey spanning more than 1,000km (620 miles) as tensions mounted. Among them was Khairi Omar, Malaysia's ambassador to Iran, who called the operation 'challenging but successful' amid the precarious security situation gripping the region. 'Thanks to the close cooperation of the Turkmenistan government, we were allowed entry and proceeded directly to Ashgabat Airport for a connecting flight,' Khairi said on Sunday following the group's return.
The Star
24-06-2025
- The Star
M'sians home safe after 1,000km overland escape
SEPANG: The evacuation of 17 Malaysians from conflict-hit Iran saw the group endure a gruelling journey of more than 1,000km across Iran to reach the Turkmenistan border. Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar (pic), described the evacuation as 'challenging but successful' amid mounting security concerns in the region. 'Thanks to the close cooperation of the Turkmenistan government, we were allowed entry and proceeded directly to Ashgabat Airport for a connecting flight,' he said. The evacuees then transited in Bangkok, Thailand, before arriving in Malaysia on Sunday. They were part of a larger group of 24 individuals that included six Iranians with close family ties to Malaysians and one Singaporean. They touched down at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 11.03pm via Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 from Bangkok. Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (Bilateral Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani was present at the arrival hall to welcome them. Explaining further, Khairi said the evacuees took a route, moving eastward out of Teheran by road. 'It was a long trip – over 24 hours on the road – and we even had to spend a night at the border,' Khairi told reporters at KLIA. He said the Malaysian Embassy was in contact with authorities in both Iran and neighbouring countries to coordinate a safe passage as attacks intensified in the western part of Iran. 'The attacks were sudden and severe. Within a day or two, we started seeing a pattern where clashes were more intense at night and calmer during the day. 'But we have to be very careful. Wrong place, wrong time, and you could end up in a very dangerous situation,' Khairi said. The ambassador also confirmed that around 12 Malaysians are still in Iran. Most of them are students or individuals married to Iranians. He said communication remains a major hurdle. With roaming services down and the WhatsApp application largely blocked, the embassy has had to rely on the traditional SMS network, which is only active between local Iranian numbers. 'We can't make calls from Malaysia to Iran, but thankfully, outgoing calls from Iran are still possible,' Khairi said. Khairi reassured the public that all remaining Malaysians are safe and accounted for. 'We are doing our utmost to maintain communication as effectively as possible,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
24 evacuees from Iran arrive safely in Malaysia
The evacuees, who were on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH781, touched down at KLIA Terminal 1 at 11.03pm yesterday. (Bernama pic) SEPANG : A total of 24 individuals including 17 Malaysians who were evacuated from Iran following the escalating conflict in the country have returned safely home. The evacuees, who were on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH781, touched down at KLIA Terminal 1 at 11.03pm yesterday. They were welcomed by the foreign ministry's deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. The group comprised 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens, and one Singaporean national. Malaysia's ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who led the group, told the media they had to travel about 1,000km by land to exit Tehran. 'We chose a route away from the source of the attacks, which were coming from the west, so we headed east. Alhamdulillah, we received strong cooperation from the Turkmenistan government, which allowed foreign nationals to cross the border,' he said. He added that around 12 Malaysians were still in Iran, and that Wisma Putra was closely monitoring their situation to ensure their safety. According to a statement from Wisma Putra, all 24 individuals crossed the Iran–Turkmenistan border on June 21 and boarded Turkmenistan Airlines flight T5 647 on June 22 to Bangkok, Thailand, before continuing their journey to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781. The evacuation, coordinated by the Malaysian embassy in Tehran, involved a 1,120km land journey to the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The Malaysian embassies in Ashgabat and Bangkok facilitated flight arrangements from Ashgabat to Malaysia. The foreign ministry expressed its appreciation to the governments of Iran, Turkmenistan, and Thailand for their cooperation which enabled the smooth return home for the Malaysians. 'This evacuation process reflects the Malaysian government's continued commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of its citizens, in line with the core value of ihsan (compassion) under the Malaysia Madani framework,' the statement said. Wisma Putra also confirmed that the Malaysian embassy in Ashgabat had assisted in the repatriation of Bruneian citizens from Turkmenistan to their home country. It said the involvement of a Singaporean citizen in the evacuation and the assistance extended to Brunei nationals reflected Malaysia's readiness to offer support to citizens of fellow Asean nations, in the spirit of regional solidarity.
Daily Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
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
Sinar Daily
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Malaysians in Iran rely on SMS amid roaming shutdown
Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who led the group, told the media they had to travel by land for about 1,000 kilometres to exit Tehran. 23 Jun 2025 11:04am Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar (second, left) said roaming services in the country, including WhatsApp, are currently blocked. - Bernama photo 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. A group of 24 individuals, including 17 Malaysians, safely touched down at KLIA Terminal 1 after being evacuated from Iran amidst escalating conflict. - Bernama photo "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. "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. - BERNAMA
