SHAH ALAM, July 17 — Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is ready to fly home Malaysian students from strife-torn Egypt if the situation worsens, said acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hishammuddin said he was given the assurance by MAS board of directors at a meeting this afternoon.
However, he said there was no urgency to do so at the moment as the situation was still manageable and the students were currently sitting for their examinations at their respective universities.
“If possible, we want to bring them home after August 9 after the exams,” he told reporters after launching a high-security driving licence at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Padang Jawa, here today.
The new style licence, which protects the driver’s information and photograph, replaces the current laminated one, which has been around since 1989.
Hishammuddin, who is also home minister, said the decision to evacuate Malaysian students would rest on the National Security Council (NSC) and Wisma Putra.
“We also need to identify the number students who want to come back, apart from studying other channels to bring them home,” he said.
On the status the Automated Enforcement System (AES), he said the Transport Ministry would brief the Cabinet on its findings on several issues raised by various quarters.
“We have heard the views of the attorney-general and stakeholders and weigh them against the safety factor and public resentment. We have come out with several options to address AES weaknesses,” he added.
The attorney-general decided to suspend court proceedings on AES due to public outcry late last year.
Hishammuddin later joined JPJ personnel for the breaking of fast and performed the Maghrib, Isyak and tarawih players.
Present were his wife, Datin Seri Tengku Marsilla Tengku Abdullah, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi and JPJ director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad. — Bernama
