Latest news with #Khairi
New Paper
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
1 Singaporean, 17 Malaysians among 24 people evacuated from Iran to Kuala Lumpur
Seventeen Malaysians were safely brought home on June 22 from conflict-hit Iran. They were part of a larger group of 24 individuals that included six Iranians with close family ties to Malaysian citizens and one Singaporean. The evacuees touched down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 at 11.03pm on June 22 via Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 from Bangkok, Thailand. Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani was at the arrival hall to welcome the returnees. Leading the group was Malaysia's ambassador to Iran, Mr Khairi Omar, who described the evacuation as "challenging but successful" amid mounting security concerns in the region. "We took a route far from the western frontlines, moving eastward out of Tehran by road," Mr Khairi told reporters shortly after arrival. "It was a long trip - over 24 hours on the road - and we even had to spend a night at the border." The evacuation, coordinated by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran, saw the group endure a gruelling journey of more than 1,000km across Iran to reach the Turkmenistan border. "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 before arriving in Malaysia. While the latest group of evacuees is now safe, the ambassador said there are about 12 Malaysians still in Iran, most of whom are students or individuals married to Iranians. Mr Khairi assured that all remaining Malaysians are accounted for and currently safe. "We're doing our best to track their movements. Some have relocated from their usual places due to safety concerns, but we're maintaining communication as much as possible," he said. The Straits Times has contacted Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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.
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
AsiaOne
23-06-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
US bombing of Iran: Singaporean among 24 evacuated, Singapore News
A Singaporean has been evacuated from Iran alongside 17 Malaysians and six Iranians with close ties to citizens of Malaysia. The group arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 10.50pm on Sunday (June 22) via Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 from Bangkok, Thailand, said the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in a statement on the same day. Coordinated by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran, the evacuation involved the group travelling 1,120 km across Iran to the Turkmenistan border. Leading them was Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who described the process as "challenging but successful" amid rising security concerns in the region, reported The Star. "We took a route far from the western frontlines, moving eastward out of Tehran by road," Khairi told Malaysian media shortly after arriving. "It was a long trip — over 24 hours on the road — and we even had to spend a night at the border." The group's subsequent flights from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to Bangkok, and then Malaysia, were facilitated and coordinated by the Embassy of Malaysia in Ashgabat and the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok respectively, said MOFA. It also expressed its "deepest appreciation and gratitude" to the governments of Iran, Turkmenistan and Thailand for their close co-operation, which "enabled the smooth and safe repatriation of these individuals". "This evacuation operation reflects the Government of Malaysia's continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens," said MOFA. It also stated that the Embassy of Malaysia in Ashgabat had previously assisted with the movement and flight arrangements for citizens of Brunei Darussalam returning home from Turkmenistan. "The inclusion of a Singaporean citizen in this operation, along with the assistance extended to the citizens of Brunei Darussalam, further reflects Malaysia's readiness to provide support to nationals of fellow Asean member states, in line with the spirit of regional solidarity," it added. AsiaOne has contacted Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information. [[nid:719362]]
