KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM50mil was spent to evacuate and relocate Malaysians from Egypt, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman on Tuesday.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that this included the cost of operating three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 aircraft, special Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Air Asia planes and commercial flight fares for Malaysian students in Jeddah and other areas.
"This also covers their meals and accommodation in Jeddah with the help of Tabung Haji," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading).
Mohamed had asked for a breakdown of the expenses borne by the government to bring home Malaysians who were trapped in Egypt recently, and the current status of Malaysia-Egypt relations.
Anifah also conveyed his thanks to those involved in Ops Piramid, including the Saudi Arabian government, National Security Council, Defence Ministry, Tabung Haji, MAS and Air Asia, that was said to have agreed to bear all the operation costs as their corporate social responsiblity.
On the two-way ties between Malaysia and Egypt, Anifah said Malaysia would continue diplomatic relations with the country in efforts to preserve political and economic interests, as well as for the safety of Malaysians in Egypt.
He said Malaysia felt the political unrest in the Middle-Eastern and North African countries was caused by internal political and socio-economic problems due to unemployment, poverty, high inflation and the gap in wealth distribution.
Should the chaos continue, he said, it would make a big impact on the world and Malaysian economy as a result of the escalating petrol price in the global market.
"The government will continue to monitor the region to ensure that our country's political and economic interests are assured," he added. - Bernama
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