Halfway there: Siti Zulaikha (left) carrying her three-month-old baby, accompanied by her husband during their transit at Ashgabat International Airport in Turkmenistan.
PETALING JAYA: Siti Zulaikha Mohd Jun was visiting her in-laws with her three-month-old baby in tow when the first bomb fell.
It was the start of a nightmare that lasted nine days, including a journey across thousands of kilometres and several borders before she was finally welcomed by the safe embrace of home.
Supply chain manager Siti Zulaikha, whose husband is Iranian, had arrived in the country on June 9 and was staying in Shiraz, a city south of Tehran.
The 34-year-old had been planning to be in Iran until June 22.
Then, in the pre-dawn darkness of June 13, Israel launched a “pre-emptive” attack on Iran, dropping a barrage of bombs.
Just 30 minutes before midnight on June 15, Siti Zulaikha saw rockets being launched by the Islamic republic in retaliation.
Her holiday plans – like many buildings in Iran in that moment – were in shambles.
With their lives in imminent danger, Siti Zulaikha and her infant simply had to leave.
Their journey home began when she was contacted by the Malaysian embassy in Teheran to inform her that the international airport was closed.
She was also told about an evacuation plan via the Turkmenistan border.
“The distance between Shiraz and the border was vast – some 1,500km. It would probably take a day or more (to evacuate).”
Initially, Siti Zulaikha hesitated due to concerns about the long drive with her baby.
However, as tensions rose with the involvement of the United States, she had no choice but to leave, at least for the baby’s sake.
They talked with Malaysian officials and agreed to meet at the Turkmenistan border at 6am on June 21.
“We left Shiraz at about 3pm on June 19,” Siti Zulaikha said.
To ensure they had enough fuel for the arduous journey of more than a day, her husband and his family prepared a barrel of petrol in the car. Also in the car were her mother-in-law and uncle.
The journey was fraught with anxiety, but the golden sunset she saw along the highway gave her peace.
“At the time, I only thought about braving through the long journey,” she shared.
By dawn on Friday, they reached Khorasan, a province in northern Iran, near the border.
“We arrived at the border by Friday noon, which was earlier than planned.
“We were welcomed by Malaysian embassy officials and spent the night at a nearby hotel.
“The next morning, we left for the border,” she said.
The journey to the Bajgiran-Gaudan border was a rough bus ride that started at 4.30am on Saturday.
“We were told by locals that crossing the border could be difficult due to strict regulations by Turkmenistan’s authorities, who do not allow tourists to enter without local tour guides.
“My husband and I could only hope, but Malaysian officials had everything arranged.
“We have immense respect for those who worked hard that day.”
After providing all the documentation for visa purposes to enter Turkmenistan, Siti Zulaikha said they spent another half-a-day waiting on the bus before finally being granted access.
“I had mixed feelings as we crossed the border into Turkmenistan. I felt sad about leaving my husband’s family in Iran yet happy to be on the way home.”
The journey was far from over – they had to take a flight from Ashgabat airport to Bangkok, Thailand.
Siti Zulaikha and her family, along with several others, finally reached Kuala Lumpur International Airport on June 22.
She expressed gratitude to the officials of Malaysian embassies in Iran, Turkmenistan and Thailand for their hard work.
Five Malaysians – four students and a businessman – have opted to remain in Iran.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said they had signed a letter of undertaking to stay put despite the government’s call for all Malaysians there to leave the country amid escalating conflict.
