MALAYSIA’S consulate in protest-wracked Hong Kong has moved a group of Malaysian students to safety, said Marzuki Yahya today.

The deputy foreign minister said the students are now at the government-owned Malaysia House, adding that several others have opted to stay with relatives in safer areas of the city.

However, he was unable to say how many students are at Malaysia House.

Marzuki told The Malaysian Insight that the consulate has received calls from Malaysians, many of them students, affected by the hub’s paralysed transport system.

“The majority of Malaysian students have reportedly returned to Malaysia for the semester break. No evacuation is planned at this point.”

The consulate has not received any report on untoward incidents involving Malaysians. It is closely monitoring the situation on the ground, and is prepared for the worst.

Marzuki advised Malaysians not to travel to Hong Kong for the time being, as the pro-democracy protests that erupted in June have not shown signs of abating.

“We hope it does not continue for too long,” he said, adding that the consulate is checking on Malaysian expatriates and students in the city.

“Some have reported themselves to the consulate. The problem is, some have not.”

South China Morning Post reported that foreign students are being called home, and that universities are arranging the voluntary evacuation of students.

Al Jazeera, meanwhile, said several varsities have announced the cancellation of classes till year-end, with online learning and other assessment methods to be used for the term’s remaining weeks. – November 14, 2019.