Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi slammed the opposition today, saying they were making an issue out of the government's move to evacuate Malaysians stranded in crisis-stricken Egypt.

 

He said the opposition were only good at making noise at a time when the those involved in the evacuation process were trying their best to get the job done.

"Their role is reduced to just that ... making noise. If they are sincere, they should come forward and offer assistance to the Malaysians in Egypt," he told reporters after attending a briefing on the navy's second generation patrol vessels project, in Lumut today.

He said the opposition should have contributed in whatever they could such as providing accommodation, food and flight tickets to the students and not just pointing fingers at the government.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin criticised the government recently, claiming that the government was dragging its feet in evacuating the students.

Ahmad Zahid said the evacuation process was in full swing using aircraft belonging to the air force, Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia.

"This is not an easy task. It involves over 12,000 Malaysians and we are also faced with bureaucratic procedures in Egypt," he said.

- Bernama