KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will fly to Turkiye tonight to express support for the country which has lost tens of thousands of people in an earthquake.
Anwar said due to his work commitments, he was initially hesitant to visit the country but changed his mind after receiving calls from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Initially, I was reluctant because the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) is already there and a (field) hospital has been set up. However, in the spirit of friendship I have decided to go there,” he told reporters after a meeting with senators at Parliament Building here today.
Anwar said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir would accompany him on the one-day trip.
Earlier, during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, the Prime Minister said Erdogan had called him twice asking him to go to Turkiye.
"I am considering flying there tonight to give my moral support. I have been asked by the President to go there immediately," Anwar said.
On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkiye and parts of Syria, and as of yesterday, 31,643 people have been confirmed dead and 106,428 injured in Turkiye while in Syria the casualty figures were 5,329 dead and 14,500 injured.
— Bernama
