KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry is looking at alternatives to help 18 Malaysians currently stranded in Bolivia.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said the Malaysian embassy in Lima, Peru simultaneously accredited to Bolivia, is constantly in contact and has provided Consular service assistance to the group in the South American country.
“Taking into consideration that the Bolivian government declared a lockdown which resulted in the temporary suspension of many flights, the Malaysian embassy is looking for alternatives to assist the group stranded there,” he said today.
The New Straits Times reported yesterday that the Malaysians got stranded in a hotel in the capital of La Paz, Bolivia during what was supposed to be a dream holiday to South America.
Tee Wan, the spokesman for the group, said they were in good health, but were worried about their future and wondering when they could go home.
“There is no Malaysian embassy or consulate in Bolivia, but thankfully, we have contacted the embassies in Lima, Peru, and Brasilia, Brazil, about our situation.
“The embassy staff have been helpful in providing information and are trying their best to assist us. We really appreciate their efforts,” Tee Wan told the NST.
On other developments, Kamaruddin said the government successfully repatriated more than 300 Malaysians stranded abroad who arrived home separately in two groups yesterday and today.
A total 179 of them from Amritsar, India arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10.50pm yesterday.
Another 144 arrived home from Myanmar via a special flight MH741 operated by Malaysia Airlines Bhd at 3.50pm today.
“The repatriation exercise was successful despite the fact that the Myanmar government had officially cancelled all inbound flights from coming into the country effective Mar 30.
“The effort was made possible following cooperation between the Malaysian embassy in Yangon and Malaysia Airlines as well as the Myanmar government, which gave special approval to the flight from Malaysia (to enter and land in Myanmar),” he said.
As of today, he said, a total 3,201 Malaysians including the two groups who were stranded in Amritsar and Myanmar have returned home through the repatriation exercise that is fully funded by the government with contributions from political parties namely MIC and private sectors such as T7 Global Bhd and Westar Aviation Services.
Kamaruddin said there are still 4,374 Malaysians stranded in 56 countries.
More than 2,000 of them are stranded in India, followed by Indonesia (680), Australia (226), New Zealand (153), Thailand (337), Saudi Arabia (121), Pakistan (128), Philippines (54), Sri Lanka (50), and United Arab Emirates (43).
“Malaysians who are abroad and want to return home are advised to contact and manage their trip via commercial flights immediately before the air carriers suspend or temporarily cancel operations following measures enforced at the respective countries,” he said.