Malaysia moves to bring home citizens stranded in Middle East

Fadillah (standing, sixth right) in a group photo with others during the zakat contribution and packed food presentation ceremony at Surau Darul Ikhlas, TM Sarawak Hub, Kuching, on March 7, 2026. Photo credit: Fadillah Yusof's official Facebook page

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, March 7: The Malaysian government is arranging the return of its citizens stranded in the Middle East amid rising flight costs and ongoing conflict, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof.

He said around 3,000 tourists and more than 20,000 residents and workers are currently stranded in the region, with the largest group being Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

“Specifically for those stranded, we are now organising programmes to bring them home because some have run out of money—they can no longer pay for hotels or meals.

“At the Cabinet level, we have made arrangements. For areas without a fly zone, we will transport them overland to airports where flights are possible.

“Right now, only Saudi Arabia and Oman have limited space for repatriation flights,” he told reporters after the zakat contribution and packed food presentation ceremony at Surau Darul Ikhlas, TM Sarawak Hub here today.

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), AirAsia, and Batik Air to charter planes for the evacuation.

While some flights remain available via Saudi Airlines, Fadillah said MAS is preparing to resume services to Jeddah and Madinah next week.

He also urged all Malaysians to defer travel to the region until conditions stabilise.

“Conflict is unlikely to end quickly. Flight costs are rising due to insurance hikes and fewer available flights.

“We are taking proactive measures to protect Malaysians and ensure essential goods remain stable back home,” he added.

Fadillah also said the federal government is preparing for broader economic impacts if the conflict continues.

“During recent National Finance meetings, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, instructed all states to assess their stocks of essential goods and overall supplies.

“We also need to prepare for what could happen if the conflict persists. If it does, costs—especially logistics—will rise, which will affect the price of other goods, particularly imports.

“We must make both short- and medium-term assessments and take early action to mitigate any impact,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily