Situation in Gulf states under control, says Mohamad

2026-03-03 - 06:43

Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Wisma Putra has taken proactive measures to safeguard the welfare of Malaysians, particularly those affected by flight disruptions and movement restrictions. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR: The situation in the Gulf countries remains under control despite the uncertain security environment in the Middle East, where regional tensions have disrupted public movement and safety. Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said that for now, the government sees no need for an evacuation plan to bring Malaysians home from the affected countries. “We are closely monitoring the situation there, and at this point it does not warrant us triggering an evacuation plan,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in Dewan Negara today. He was responding to a question from Senator Azahar Hassan on the government’s measures to relocate Malaysians said to be stranded in Qatar and other parts of the Middle East due to tensions in the region. Mohamad said the foreign ministry had taken proactive measures to safeguard the welfare of Malaysians, particularly those affected by flight disruptions and movement restrictions. These include setting up a 24-hour operations room and ensuring that Malaysians can contact consular offices in the affected countries, where embassies continue to monitor developments. “At present, there are about 29,000 Malaysians in the Gulf countries, with approximately 13,000 registered with the embassies. In Qatar alone, there are 2,007 registered Malaysians, most of whom work with airlines and in related sectors,” he said. He said the government’s immediate focus was on assisting Malaysians in transit in Dubai, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Doha, while those already residing in these locations face no issues as they have access to accommodation and adequate facilities. Mohamad added that discussions are underway with Lembaga Tabung Haji to utilise the agency’s accommodation in Jeddah to support Malaysians affected by flight cancellations. The government will also manage individual cases, including those of stranded students, by providing shelter at embassy premises. Mohamad also expressed hope that umrah operators would take responsibility for their pilgrims. “For now, Malaysia Airlines is not operating flights to Saudi Arabia, although the country’s airspace remains open. This is most likely due to insurance companies raising their premiums, affecting operational viability. We are addressing this issue,” he said.