Malaysian recalls anxious moments in Turkey

The situation in Istanbul is scary, tanks are patrolling everywhere and sounds of fighter jets can be heard every time, said a Malaysian currently in Turkey following an attempted coup in that country.

Recalling the anxious moment, Aizat Shamsuddin, 24, said he was on a bus ride to the Ataturk airport in Istanbul when he was detained by military personnel.

"The bus driver ordered us to get out because the military did not permit us to go to the airport.

"They (soldiers) put up road blocks in all areas and did not allow the people to pass through, I took a taxi and use another route but was not successful," he told Bernama via WhatsApp.

Aizat is on his way to Durban, South Africa to attend a conference organised by a non governmental organisation and made a seven-hour transit in Istanbul before taking a connecting flight.

He said there was a small group of Turks who tried to create provocation and protest against the military personnel at the road blocks.

According to him, the group's action made them fired several shots into the air as a warning.

"Together with several of their people I ran following the shooting because I was concern for my safety.

"The sound of azan can be heard each time and this is really a frightening experience and I hope nothing bad happens," he said.

Aizat said he had contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Turkey and was now at the lobby of a hotel located five kms from the Ataturk airport.

"I got into a car belonging to a Turkish Airlines flight attendant to the hotel...imagine eight people in a car as big as a Perodua Axia.

"In order to save ourselves, we are willing to huddle together...there are soliders everywhere and this is a horrible experience...hope everyone is safe," he added.

The Turkish military attempted a coup on Friday that resulted in chaos when it dominated the roads in Ankara and Istanbul.

China's Xinhua news agency reported that military deployment armed with heavy weapons could be seen early Saturday morning in Ankara, Turkey's capital and Istanbul, the most populous city in that country.

In a media conference in Istanbul, Turkist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reported to have said those involved in the coup attempt would be punished and the mission to completely wipe out the traitors in the Turkish army had already began.