JEDDAH, Feb. 6 - A total of 762 Malaysian students from Egypt who were housed at the Haj Pilgrims’ transit centre, Madinatul Hujjaj are scheduled to return home in stages beginning this evening.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the first group, comprising 320 students, would leave on an AirAsia flight at 6.30pm (local time), while another 442 students would leave on a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight at 8pm.

He said the aircraft carrying the students were expected to arrive at the KL International Airport at 9.30am (Malaysian time) tomorrow.

"Don’t forget to inform your parents to be at KLIA tomorrow and Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) will also be there to welcome you home,” he said when addressing the students at the haj transit centre.

After arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Jamil Khir said the students, especially those staying in other states, could stay at the temporary accommodation centre provided for them at the Malaysian Islamic Training Institute in Bangi and the Tabung Haji Complex in Kelana Jaya, before returning to their homes.

Jamil said that besides the flight provided by MAS and AirAsia, Prince Turki Abdullah al-Saud, the son of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, had also agreed to sponsor two Jumbo jets (Boeing 747) to fly the Malaysian students home.

The departure time of the two aircraft had yet to be determined, but it would be coordinated with Malaysia Airlines, he added.

He thanked the Saudi Arabian government for the assistance rendered, including in allowing the Malaysian students to stay temporarily in Jeddah.

The Saudi Arabian government had allowed our students to enter Jeddah on arrival visa for seven days, which had never before been given to a Malaysian citizen, he added.

Meanwhile, student Abdul Salam Dahari, 23, from the University of Al-Azhar, Cairo, told reporters that he was very happy that he was able to return to Malaysia today.

The first year Usuluddin student, who is from Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, said he and other students under the Sarawak Foundation, arrived at the Haj Pilgrims’ transit centre last Friday.

His friend, Akmal Firdaus, 25, from Kuching, said they decided to leave Cairo and return to Malaysia due to the turmoil in Egypt.

"We feared for our safety if we remain in the country,” said the third year Usuluddin student, also at Al-Azhar University. - Bernama