MALAYSIAN’S 23-HOUR GRUELLING BUS TREK TO FLEE WEST ASIA CONFLICT ZONE

By Mohd Haidar Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Enduring a 23-hour bus journey across international borders was one of the toughest challenges Mohd Tarmimi Tarmizi had to face to save himself from being trapped in the West Asia conflict zone.

The logistics coordinator had only been working for one month in Doha, Qatar, when his experience turned into a nightmare after he was stranded there due to the conflict.

The 39-year-old was among the most relieved faces as he stepped into the cabin of the special chartered Malaysia Airlines plane in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after his daily routine in Doha was disrupted in the blink of an eye.

"This is my first experience of being stranded like this. In Doha, we could see fighter jets flying low, and there were even loud explosions and plumes of smoke at night," he told Bernama.

Mohd Tarmimi also recounted how the emergency warning sirens often break the silence of the night, disturbing sleep and forcing every resident to take shelter in safe areas and refrain from leaving their homes for their personal safety.

When Mohd Tarmimi’s original flight on March 7 was cancelled due to the airspace closure, he and his colleague felt a sense of hopelessness.

However, a ray of hope emerged when the Malaysian Embassy contacted them to prepare for the Evacuation Operation of Malaysians from the West Asia Conflict Zone, marking the beginning of a tiring yet meaningful land and air journey.

Mohd Tarmimi, along with 34 other individuals, had to endure a journey of thousands of kilometres from Doha to the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah via a challenging overland route.

"We had to take an alternative route to avoid high-risk areas or places that had been bombed. Although exhausted, we were determined to leave Doha," he said.

Behind the difficulties, Tarmimi expressed his deep appreciation for the commitment of the Malaysian embassy and consulate officers, whom he regarded as unsung heroes who worked tirelessly.

"I am very impressed because they (the embassy) handled everything from hotel accommodations, cross-border logistics, to the very complicated immigration matters. Moreover, the cost of the flight tickets, which reached RM10,000, was fully covered by the Malaysian government.

"We know they were also tired and worried, but they still treated us well. We could sleep, but they kept working to ensure we arrived at the airport safely," he said.

The Sarawakian, who now resides in Johor, said he had just wanted to return home to embrace his family.

Mohd Tarmimi was among the 163 Malaysians who arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on March 11, along with seven foreign nationals, as part of the first Evacuation Operation for Malaysians from the West Asia conflict zone.

The mission carried out under the immediate directive of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim brought back a group of Malaysians who were previously stranded in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and Qatar, consisting of students, travellers and umrah pilgrims.

Tensions in West Asia have escalated since Feb 28 following the attacks by Israel and the United States (US) on Iran, followed by Tehran's retaliatory strikes against US interests in the Gulf countries.

-- BERNAMA