China charters flight to take citizens back

Kota Kinabalu: The Chinese Government sent a charter plane to Kota Kinabalu Friday afternoon to bring their citizens from Hubei province who are in Sabah back to Wuhan city. Some 123 Chinese nationals boarded the plane. They were sent off by officials from the China consulate-general, as well as Dr Oh Ei Sun, president of Ma-Zhong Friendship Association, and Steven Liaw, its secretary-general. “All Hubei travellers were impressed by and thankful of Sabah’s warm hospitality and kind assistance during their stay in the state, and they vowed to visit here again when then present epidemic is over,” Oh said.

China sent two planes to Malaysia and Thailand on Friday to bring the “stranded” residents back.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Hajiji says positive economic achievements prove Sabah govt’s commitment

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, emphasised that the positive economic achievements over the past three years underscore the Sabah government’s steadfast commitment to both the administration and development of the state.

The Xiamen Airlines flights picked up the Chinese nationals from Kota Kinabalu and the Thai capital Bangkok, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

There are nationals from Hubei province in Bangkok and in Kota Kinabalu who are “willing to take the chartered flights back to Wuhan as soon as possible“, the CAAC said in a statement.

This is in spite of the fact that Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, is the epicentre of a new virus outbreak that is believed to have originated in a market that sold wild animals.

The city of 11 million has since experienced an unprecedented lockdown, preventing residents from leaving in a bid to stop the deadly virus from spreading further.

“The charter flights adopt the principle of voluntary ticket purchase,” the CAAC added.

China’s foreign affairs ministry said earlier on Friday that the country would bring Wuhan residents back from overseas “as soon as possible” due to the “the practical difficulties that Chinese citizens from Hubei, especially Wuhan, have faced overseas.”

This comes after a number of airlines announced they were halting or reducing flights to China as the country struggles to contain the spread of a deadly new virus.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

On Monday, Malaysia banned visitors from Wuhan and its surrounding Hubei province as well. Hospitals have been overwhelmed in Wuhan. AFP reporters saw long queues, with some patients saying they lined up for two days to see a doctor.

China has advised its citizens to postpone trips abroad and cancelled overseas group tours, while several countries including the United States, Germany, Britain and Japan have urged their citizens to avoid travel to China. - AFP

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00