Malaysians in Egypt want leadership crisis to be over

Malaysians in troubled Egypt are largely unaffected by the tumultuous happenings in the past 24 hours in the country, in which President Mohammed Morsi was forcibly removed from power.

Many heeded the advice of the Malaysian authority to not participate in any way in the country’s political affairs and for them to lie low.

Saravanan Karapiah, who stays in one of the quieter areas in Cairo, said he did not take part in the celebrations that followed Morsi’s fall.

“There were some fireworks and some celebration over here where I live.

“But I didn't go down to the street to see what exactly the crowd was up to. I didn’t hear any clashes or fighting as well,” said the 32-year-old engineer.

However, Saravanan said there were minor clashes yesterday as the situation in the capital heated up.

“The night before, some punk kids threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd of Pro-Morsi supporters. No one was hurt, though,” he said.

Expressing his hope for the Egypt crisis to be over, Saravanan said he wants everyone there to move on with their lives.

“I hope the people will just prioritise peace and get back to strengthening the economy,” he said.

On Wednesday, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh advised Malaysian students to stay away from Cairo and other major cities, including Faiyoum, Mansoura, Zaqaziq and Alexandria, where protests were rife.

The Malaysian Embassy in Cairo had also advised Malaysians residing in Egypt to be vigilant and stay away from large gatherings and demonstrations.

The Egyptian army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday after a week of bloodshed that killed nearly 50 people as millions took to the streets to demand an end to his turbulent single year of rule.

The announcement, made on state television by Morsi's own defence minister, armed forces chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, drew a rapturous welcome from the protesters who have camped out on the streets of Cairo for days.

Thousands of ecstatic protesters in Cario's Tahrir Square crowd set off fireworks, chanted, and cheered after the announcement.

Sisi then elected the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mansour as the country's caretaker leader.