The Woman Who Safely Evacuated 9 Malaysians, 2 Dependents & A Singaporean Stuck In Ukraine
The Embassy of Malaysia in Ukraine's First Secretary Fadhilah Daud, who led the convoy out of Kyiv, has been described as "a goddamn hero for having the gumption" to carry out the evacuation plan.
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A group of nine Malaysians, their two dependents, and a Singaporean from Kyiv in Ukraine has safely arrived today, 27 February at Korczowa-Krakovets, a border crossing between Ukraine and Poland
The convoy was led by the Embassy of Malaysia in Ukraine's First Secretary Fadhilah Daud, who decided to proceed with an alternative plan after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly bungled their evacuation.
According to a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP), the group of Malaysians and their dependents were forced to embark on a 10-hour journey in a convoy of four cars to head in the direction of Lviv after a chartered bus failed to arrive amid intense traffic along Ukraine's western border with Poland.
Image via @saifuddinabd (Twitter)
Sources with direct knowledge of the matter described Fadhilah as a "hero" for having the "gumption" to proceed with the evacuation plan
The SCMP report, from yesterday, 26 February, stated that Fadhilah is on her first overseas posting.
"The sources lay particular blame on senior government officials, including Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and the Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, for their dismissive stance towards Western intelligence in January about the imminent Russian invasion. These officials had described the intelligence as a 'Western narrative', leading the evacuation mission to become a 'cluster f_ _k'," SCMP quoted one source as saying.
"This situation is partly the consequence of having a minister who is so desperate to not fall for Western narrative, he starts believing the nonsense peddled by the other side," the report quoted another source.
First Secretary Fadhilah Daud congratulating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the 30th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Ukraine during the official reception at the Mariinsky Palace last year.
Image via Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The seats of Ambassador and Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Malaysia in Ukraine have been vacant since around May 2021, according to the organisation chart of the embassy.
The successful evacuation of these nine Malaysians and their two Ukrainian dependents comes after 13 Malaysians already left Ukraine
They along with the sole Singaporean national will now make their way to Warsaw with two officials from the Embassy of Malaysia and will return to Kuala Lumpur soon, according to Saifuddin.
Image via Saifuddin Abdullah (Facebook)
Image via Saifuddin Abdullah (Facebook)
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister took to Facebook to share the news:
Prior to this, Ambassador of Ukraine to Malaysia Olexander Nechytaylo had urged Malaysia to make its position clearer about the invasion:
Recently, we also spoke to a Ukrainian about the situation there:
And, in case you missed it:
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