SERI KEMBANGAN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pix) hopes that Malaysians and their family members in Wuhan are in good health so that they can be evacuated from the city hit by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
She said the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) aircraft sent to bring them home arrived at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 9.01pm (Malaysian time).
She said the government had not received any latest updates on the actual number of Malaysians who were allowed to return home.
“Thank God the plane has landed. They have to be healthy enough to be travelling before we take them. But we have not received the final numbers of Malaysians coming back,” she told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year Open House organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) at Wisma Hua Zong here last night.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said in a statement yesterday afternoon that the AirAsia AK8264 departed at 3.50pm with 12 crew and eight HADR mission personnel from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) for Wuhan, China to bring home 141 Malaysians and their family members.
The aircraft also brought with it 500,000 pairs of rubber gloves as a contribution to the Chinese government in an effort to contain the 2019-nCoV outbreak in the country.
As for the return flight to Kuala Lumpur, it was reported that the returning Malaysians and their family members would have to undergo health screening according to conditions set by the Chinese authorities before they can board the plane to Malaysia.
At the event, which was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, Hua Zong president Tan Sri Goh Tian Chuan, Works Minister Baru Bian, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye, a Yee Sang tossing ceremony was held as a symbol of prosperity.
The coronavirus outbreak in China was a topic of conversation at the gathering, with both sides expressing the hope that the health crisis would end soon and more lives can be saved.
Bai Tian in his speech said China was working hard to curb the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed 361 lives in the republic and infected 17,205 people in 27 countries as at yesterday.
“Fair to say that Chinese New Year in China is not joyful; a medical team has rushed to Wuhan city and we have confidence to put an end to this epidemic. Thanks to Malaysia for its continuous support, and we know China is not fighting this battle alone,” he said. — Bernama
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