Malaysian academic recalls terrifying moments in Turkey

SEPANG: A Malaysian academic says he is more appreciative of peace in the country after his harrowing experience during an attempted military coup in Turkey on Saturday that claimed at least 265 lives.  

Prof Ir Mohd Jailani Mohd Nor, who is Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) Research and Innovation deputy vice chancellor, said the tense and precarious situation was something he would remember for the rest of his life.  

He said gunfire was heard pounding at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and the atmosphere was chaotic. 

He was also concerned that stray bullets might hit anyone with repeated gunshots.  

“All Malaysians took the initiative to gather at Gate 303, and I then tried to calm down," he told reporters at the KL International Airport (KLIA) here early Sunday.  

"As we (about 40 Malaysians) gathered together, we encouraged one another that the experience we were facing was able to make us appreciate better the prevailing peace in Malaysia.   

"As long as we have never faced the situation, we will not appreciate the meaning of freedom and the importance of maintaining peace.  

"I surrendered to Allah at that moment. So I decided no matter what happened, I would take refuge at the airport because I felt it was the still a safe place," Prof Mohd Jailani said.  

He also recalled that the most frightening moment was when the sound of a low flying fighter jet at the airport was heard and he was told the aircraft of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was landing. 

Prof Mohd Jailani arrived at 5.10am Sunday by a Turkish Airlines flight together with 32 Malaysians after being stranded for 15 hours while on transit at Ataturk Airport.  

Earlier, he boarded the flight from Athens after attending an international congress in sound and vibration, and was stranded with other passengers at Ataturk Airport.  

The Turkish Embassy in Malaysia, in a statement, Saturday reiterated that Erdogan's government was still in power and denied the attempted coup was successfully carried out. - Bernama