3,000 Malaysians in France Safe – Ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR: All 3,000 Malaysians registered with the Malaysian Embassy in France have been confirmed safe amid ongoing protests in the country.

Confirming the development, Malaysian Ambassador to France Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim said no Malaysians had been injured or stranded in the protests, which reportedly turned violent in several locations over the past few days.

“Alhamdulillah, so far, all of them are safe. We are continuously monitoring the situation and working closely with the French authorities, city councils and the Foreign Ministry to keep track of developments and provide assistance,” he said.

Commenting on the current situation in Paris today, Eldeen Husaini said conditions were generally calm, although protests were still taking place in several areas.

He said further demonstrations were expected as long as the demands of students and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) remained unmet by the French government.

“However, I expect subsequent protests to be on a smaller scale compared with yesterday’s demonstrations,” he said.

Eldeen Husaini also advised Malaysians residing in or visiting France to remain vigilant, avoid high-risk protest areas and maintain contact with embassy officials.

“For those living in France, the best advice is to avoid protest areas entirely unless absolutely necessary.

“For tourists planning their holidays, closely monitor the situation and consider rescheduling non-essential travel until conditions have settled,” he said.

Eldeen Husaini also urged all Malaysian travellers and tourists in France to register with the embassy to facilitate communication and the provision of assistance.

Berita Harian