Malaysia cooperating closely with Egypt - Hishammuddin

The Malaysian government is cooperating closely with Egyptian security authorities to ensure that Malaysian nationals, especially the students, in that country are safe, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said Malaysian National Security Council (NSC) officers and the ambassador had held a meeting with the National Security of Egypt to seek their assistance in giving protection to Malaysian students.

"As the minister responsible for Malaysian nationals there, including arranging for their return home if necessary, I am constantly monitoring the situation there with the collaboration of the Prime Minister's Department, Wisma Putra, NSC, Education Ministry, the Malaysian Embassy in Egypt and the Defence Ministry itself.

"So far, no undesired incidents pertaining to Malaysians, especially our students there, had been reported," he said in a statement, here today.

He said that under the operation codenamed 'Ops Pyramid', NSC officers there had been monitoring and making necessary preparations if the safety of Malaysian students were jeopardised by the developments in that country from July 7 to 11.