“None of us have left the compound as the situation is unsafe. There are shootings and bombings going on everywhere,” the 39-year-old told The Star.
“We have enough food and water for now.
“But neighbouring construction sites have been burned down,” he said.
Sivanaesan and the other Malaysians are involved in the construction of the Tajura housing project there.
Most communication channels had been cut off, he said, adding that the Internet connection was not stable.
Sivanaesan said they were frustrated by the seemingly slow progress of evacuating them from Libya.
“Workers from other companies are being evacuated now. What is our embassy doing?
“When we get in touch with the embassy staff, none can tell us of any plans,” said Sivanaesan. “They merely ask us to stand by.”
Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay said the 190 Malaysians in Libya will be transported in stage coaches out of Tripoli and by sea to Rome.
He said the Malaysian embassy was working out the final details.
“We will be evacuating them very soon. I am standing by for updates from our ambassador there,” he told The Star.
He said evacuation by aircraft was not possible as Libya’s airspace had been restricted in light of the demonstrations there.
He said all the Malaysians, including seven students, were being evacuated from Libya’s capital Tripoli after violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces moved the alert level from yellow (caution) to orange (dangerous).
Between 200 and 300 people have been killed in an uprising to oust Muammar Gaddafi who has ruled the oil-rich country for four decades.
Boustead Singapore will also evacuate 31 of its Malaysian and Singaporean staff in Libya who were working on the Al-Marj township project in Tripoli, reported Bernama.
The company said in a statement that it had arranged for all its staff in other projects to be flown out of Libya on the earliest available flights.
Boustead Singapore would suspend its operations in Libya until peace was restored and the full extent of the political situation could be determined to ensure the safety of its staff.
In another development, a group of protesters held a peaceful demonstration at the Libyan embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning.
Mostly students, they burned a portrait of Gaddafi, followed by cries seeking his ouster.
The two-hour demonstration was dispersed by the police.
http://www.kl-today.com/?p=13556
No comments:
Post a Comment