KUALA LUMPUR: The government will make every effort to ensure the safety of Malaysians in Sudan and bring them home safely following the conflict in the country, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Foreign Minister said Wisma Putra would cooperate with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the National Security Council (MKN) and the Royal Malaysian Police over the matter.
He said Wisma Putra had also been in contact with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, China, the United States and the United Nations (UN) to help the process of bringing Malaysians out of Sudan as soon as the situation permits.
"Currently, the situation in the country is still tense due to the fighting between the two warring factions which is reported to be still intense, especially in strategic areas in Khartoum.
"Khartoum International Airport has not yet reopened and this makes it difficult to plan to bring out foreigners from various countries including Malaysia," he said in a statement Monday (April 17).
The conflict in Sudan involving the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has sparked political turmoil and threatened security in the country.
Earlier Monday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah recommended that the government prepare to bring home Malaysians stranded in Sudan if the conflict in the country escalated.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also asserted that the government was closely monitoring the conflict in Sudan and would bring back Malaysians who were in the country if the current situation posed a risk to their safety.
Commenting further, Zambry said all 29 Malaysians followed the advice issued by the Malaysian embassy in Khartoum to remain indoors.
He said Wisma Putra had activated "Operation Sudan" which was on duty round the clock since the crisis in Sudan started, and a special team joined by several agencies had made careful preparations and planning to ensure the safety and welfare of Malaysians in Sudan.
"This Special Team is also in close contact with the Malaysian embassy in Khartoum regarding the safest method to supply basic needs, especially food and medicine to all those in Sudan," he said. - Bernama
