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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Singapore thanks Malaysia for help in safe return of citizen from Iran
KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore has expressed its appreciation to the Malaysian government for facilitating the safe return of one of its citizens from Iran. In an official letter to Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan praised the swift and professional assistance provided by Wisma Putra and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat. He said their efforts, which included arranging accommodation, transport, and safe passage through Turkmenistan, were instrumental in ensuring a successful evacuation. "The swift and professional support provided by the Wisma Putra Consular Division and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat allowed us to operationalise an evacuation plan under difficult circumstances. "Their prompt assistance, particularly in securing the necessary accommodation, transportation, and entry permits into Turkmenistan, was crucial in ensuring the safety of our citizens," the letter read. He added that Malaysia's readiness to respond in a time of crisis reflected the enduring and trusted relationship between the two nations, stating that "hard times reveal true friends." "We sincerely appreciate your government's readiness to extend assistance in times of crisis. "This is also a testament to Asean solidarity and a real-life demonstration of the importance of the Asean Guidelines on Consular Assistance for Asean Member States to help one another's citizens." Balakrishnan said the Singaporean citizen was evacuated with a group of Malaysians and other nationals from Iran to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with the assistance of the Malaysian government. Meanwhile, a family of three Singaporeans was evacuated from Tehran, Iran, to Muscat, Oman, with the help of the Omani government, alongside a group of Omani citizens and other foreign nationals. US President Donald Trump said Monday on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be phased in over 24 hours. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ceasefire would bring an 'Official END' to the war, a major change in the hostilities that follows a US strike over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites. Over a week of tit-for tat missile launches have killed hundreds in Iran and two dozen in Israel.
Barnama
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia's Evacuation Assistance A Testament To ASEAN Solidarity, Says Singapore FM
By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz SINGAPORE, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's assistance in evacuating a Singaporean from Iran not only reinforces the close and enduring relationship between the two countries, but also serves as a testament to ASEAN solidarity, said Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. In a letter to his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Balakrishnan said the support is also a real-life demonstration of the importance of the ASEAN Guidelines on Consular Assistance for ASEAN Member States to help one another's citizens. bootstrap slideshow 'Hard times reveal true friends. We sincerely appreciate your government's readiness to extend assistance in times of crisis,' he wrote in the letter. A copy of the letter was shared by Balakrishnan on his Facebook page on Monday, where he also stated that he was grateful to the governments of Malaysia and Oman for their invaluable support in safely evacuating Singaporeans from Iran. In the letter, he noted that the swift and professional action taken by Wisma Putra Consular Division and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat allowed Singapore to operationalise an evacuation plan under difficult circumstances. 'Their prompt assistance, particularly securing the necessary accommodation, transportation, and entry permits into Turkmenistan, was crucial in ensuring the safety of our citizens,' he added. Meanwhile, Balakrishnan also wrote a separate letter to Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi to express his gratitude for Oman's prompt and effective assistance. He said Singapore remains deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and that various mediation efforts, including those by Al-Busaidi, are crucial for de-escalation.
