Najib meets Syrian families taking refuge in Malaysia

RIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took time off from his busy schedule at the Umno general assembly to meet Syrian families taking refuge in the country.

Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Najib spent about 20 minutes talking to the three families who have fled their war-torn country.

Salam Ali, 17, who arrived in Malaysia with her sister and parents, said she was looking forward to continuing with her studies.

"Malaysia is beautiful," said Salam, adding that she hoped to be as happy here as she was in Syria before the conflict started.

Mohamed Ibrahim, 29, whose family has finally joined him in Malaysia where he has been working as a hairstylist for four years, said he was happy to have the chance to meet the Prime Minister.

"I am so happy, I don't know what to say. Insya Allah, we will have a good life here," he said, adding that he was thankful for the help of Malaysians in bringing his family to the country.

Mohamed said he was glad that his parents, brother and sister are safe with him now.

His family was the first group of Syrian refugees to touch down at the KL International Airport on Tuesday.

Flying in from Istanbul, the family originally came from Idlib city in Syria.

The move to bring Syrians here was part of Najib's promise to help 3,000 Syrian refugees currently fleeing from conflict in their country.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Federal Terri­tories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Syrian families reunite under Malaysia's refugee plan

Syrian hairstylists Mohamed Ibrahim (back row, third from left) and Ali Abdul Naser (back row, fourth from left) with their families who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday from Turkey. The families are the first batch of Syrians who are in Malaysia as part of the government's plan to take in 3,000 refugees over three years to help ease the migrant crisis.PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia has welcomed its first batch of Syrian migrants as part of its plan to take in 3,000 refugees from Syria over three years to help ease the migrant crisis.

The group of eight Syrians, comprising two families, flew in from Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday into the arms of their waiting kin at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Hairstylist Mohamed Ibrahim, 29, who has been in Malaysia since 2012, said he was grateful that his parents, brother and sister were safe in Malaysia now, The Star reported.

"Our house was destroyed in the war. I was worried something might happen to my family if they remained in Idlib city (in north-western Syria)," he said.

Like Mr Mohamed, Mr Ali Abdul Naser, 30, successfully applied to the Malaysian government to accept his family. "I cannot believe that they are here after just a month. I am very happy that they are here with me," Mr Ali was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insider news site. "At least we are all safe now. We can look forward to rebuilding our lives here," said Mr Ali, 30, also a hairstylist. "I consider Malaysia my second home."

But he hoped they could go home once there is peace in his homeland.

More than four million people have fled Syria's brutal civil war and more than seven million others are displaced within the country.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com