By NNN-Bernama,
Sepang, Malaysia : The third and final batch of Malaysians airlifted out of strife-torn Libya returned here today.
The 18 Malaysians flew in from Rome by a Malaysia Airlines flight which arrived at the KL International Airport here at 6.26am.
They were among the 124 airlifted out of Tripoli to Tunis by a chartered aircraft and then flown to Rome by a C-130 aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
The first batch of 98 Malaysians returned two days ago and the second batch of eight came back yesterday.
Cheerful family members and the management of Malaysia Ranhill Berhad, whose employees in Libya were also among the evacuees, were at the airport as early as 5am waiting for MAS Flight MH015.
The evacuees said they were happy and grateful to be back home safe following
their harrowing and unforgettable experience of braving the uprising to get to
the airport in Tripoli.
Fairuz Abdullah, 28, who started working in Libya only six months ago, said he was shocked at the aggressive tactics employed by the Libyan soldiers who beat people jostling to enter the airport.
Some of the people were injured while others fainted when they were beaten because they tried to jump queue, he said.
“I had to wait for up to three hours in the cold weather before being allowed to enter the airport. The place was congested with people and there was little order,” he said.
Fairuz said he was grateful that all the Malaysians were unharmed, and praised
the Malaysian government’s arrangement to bring back its citizens.
Nassaruddin Abdul Thalib, 34, said the shooting near the airport, believed to be between the police and the rioters, was the most frightening experience, and added that several people were injured and had to be rushed to hospital.
“I saw several people lying on the ground injured. There were many ambulances. I am grateful that nothing happened to any of us.
“I am happy to be back. The situation there is beyond control. Many shops are closed and food is getting scarce,” he said.
Rabiyatul Adawiyah Mustafa, 35, said that as soon as her company learned of the uprising, it briefed all employees on the security arrangements and ordered them to remain in the camp where they were staying.
“We were safe in the camp, but prayed that the rioters would not come there,” she said.
Rabiyatul Adawiyah, who had been working in Libya for a year, said she hoped that the situation would return to normal as she wanted to go back to earn a living there.