Riyadh airport attack: No evacuation needed for Malaysian students in Saudi Arabia for now, says Zambry

LUMUT, October 11 — No immediate evacuation is required for Malaysian students studying in Saudi Arabia, according to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. This assessment follows yesterday's attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where 12 individuals lost their lives and 309 sustained injuries. The fatalities were a mix of Saudi nationals, Bangladeshis, and students from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.

Monitoring is ongoing in various regions, with particular attention on Madinah and Makkah to ensure the safety of the students. Zambry stated that while there is no urgent need for evacuation, the situation is being closely monitored, and the Minister works closely with the Foreign Ministry to gather the most recent information.

Earlier, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation reported the tragic toll of the attack, which left four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one individual each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan dead, while 309 others were injured. Dr Zambry addressed reporters after inaugurating the Targeted Higher Education Assistance Programme at Dewan Mohd Anwar, TVETMARA, in LUMUT.

In announcing the assistance, Dr Zambry mentioned that RM200,000 had been allocated to 400 students from low-income families to help alleviate their education costs. This support, managed through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), is being distributed in installments to ensure the funds are effectively utilized for educational purposes.

Each recipient will receive RM500, with the aim of providing the necessary resources to help students continue their studies uninterrupted and to ease the financial strain on their families, especially those with multiple dependents.