Watching the news in anticipation of what the government can and will do.This year's CNY eve was marred by the escalating conflict in Egypt. I don't have to explain what it is about as there's a whole Google for that topic. But if you've been hu-ha-hee-hee ing without knowing what's happening to the pre-apocalyptic world, the Arab Republic of Egypt is facing an uprising from its citizens who are unhappy with the way the old Mubarak's government is handling many things especially their silence on the Palestinian conflict (another long story, read this older post).
So anyways we have Malaysian students in Egypt trapped in the middle of the revolution to oust President Mubarak. News from them include food shortages, being looted, gun pointed to their heads, sleeping with knives and many expected news from a chaotic country. My cousin is one of the students in trapped in all that chaos. So basically I got a first hand experience of what's happening there and here in Malaysia.
Apparently the States and other countries have supplied planes to evacuate their own students but there had been almost no contingency or evacuating plan from Malaysia apart from sending a ship to transport the students to nearby Jeddah (through the pirate infested Gulf of Aden). One Malaysian student fled to Moscow and the rest scattered all over Egypt from Cairo to Alexandria with their friends to take shelter from the angry mob on the streets. Sadly not many students are rich and can purchase RM4,000 emergency flights back to Malaysia as many are sponsored.
So after a few days of planning (I think) Malaysia sent 1 C-130 (I think) military plane to bring the students home. AirAsia offered similar assistance and MAS followed suit. Sounds good, albeit a bit late, but it gets worst. Students are limited to carry 7Kg of luggage only. Heck, I came back from Australia with minimal 50Kg (mostly souvenirs). Laptop is already 2Kg, clothes maybe around 10 Kg so imagine the sacrifice the must do to get home. Hence some opted to go home via other airlines. Oh and some students may not have laptops as they were robbed off their electronics on the way to their airport.
But nonetheless I'm thankful my cousin and the rest of the students are on their way home from the troubled northern African country. Although still in chaos her lecturer told her there will be an exam on the 19th February and I guess she and her friends ditched it in favor of personal safety. Talk about job commitment.
While we wait for our students to arrive, let's just see how things in Egypt develop eh?
So anyways we have Malaysian students in Egypt trapped in the middle of the revolution to oust President Mubarak. News from them include food shortages, being looted, gun pointed to their heads, sleeping with knives and many expected news from a chaotic country. My cousin is one of the students in trapped in all that chaos. So basically I got a first hand experience of what's happening there and here in Malaysia.
Apparently the States and other countries have supplied planes to evacuate their own students but there had been almost no contingency or evacuating plan from Malaysia apart from sending a ship to transport the students to nearby Jeddah (through the pirate infested Gulf of Aden). One Malaysian student fled to Moscow and the rest scattered all over Egypt from Cairo to Alexandria with their friends to take shelter from the angry mob on the streets. Sadly not many students are rich and can purchase RM4,000 emergency flights back to Malaysia as many are sponsored.
So after a few days of planning (I think) Malaysia sent 1 C-130 (I think) military plane to bring the students home. AirAsia offered similar assistance and MAS followed suit. Sounds good, albeit a bit late, but it gets worst. Students are limited to carry 7Kg of luggage only. Heck, I came back from Australia with minimal 50Kg (mostly souvenirs). Laptop is already 2Kg, clothes maybe around 10 Kg so imagine the sacrifice the must do to get home. Hence some opted to go home via other airlines. Oh and some students may not have laptops as they were robbed off their electronics on the way to their airport.
But nonetheless I'm thankful my cousin and the rest of the students are on their way home from the troubled northern African country. Although still in chaos her lecturer told her there will be an exam on the 19th February and I guess she and her friends ditched it in favor of personal safety. Talk about job commitment.
While we wait for our students to arrive, let's just see how things in Egypt develop eh?
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