MALAYSIANS in Qatar are confused and worried following the diplomatic breakdown involving Arab states.
Most are worried that they may not be able to return home for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Doha-based Syafida Abdrani, 30, said her flight with Emirates Airlines might be affected following its suspension of flights to and from Doha starting yesterday.
The Dubai-based carrier has reportedly stated that it would provide alternative options, including full refunds on unused flight tickets and free bookings to the nearest alternate destinations.
Syafida said she would wait for a few more days before making changes to her flight plans, as advised by a Malaysian association in Doha.
“My flight is scheduled for departure on June 21, so I can return to celebrate Hari Raya.
“I will monitor developments to see if the situation returns to normal.
“If not, I will ask for a refund and book another flight on another airline,” she told the New Straits Times yesterday.
A diplomatic crisis erupted following a decision by most Arab states to cut ties with Qatar on Monday.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar, and they were later joined by Yemen, Libya and Maldives.
Syafida said the situation in Doha was peaceful.
However, she said, many people were stocking up on food
and withdrawing money from banks.
She said as there were rumours that the value of Qatari currency might drop, some of her colleagues had withdrawn their savings and converted them to United States dollars.
Malaysian Aqmar Ismail said she and her parents had booked their flight tickets with Emirates for their return trip to Malaysia.
She said they would wait for a few days before deciding on the next plan.
She said the situation was normal as people were not panicking nor was there any chaos.
“I don’t want people to misunderstand.
“Everything is fine. I’m at the mosque and everyone is relaxed,” she said.
Another Malaysian, who wanted to be known only as Ahmad, said people were buying two to three weeks’ worth of supplies for fear that the situation might worsen.
He said 50 per cent of supplies to Qatar came from Saudi Arabia and this was one of the main reasons for people’s anxiety.
He said the Qatari government had been sending regular messages to assure the people that food supplies would not be affected.
He said the authorities were looking for alternative food sources to ensure there were no shortages.
“It is only day two (yesterday).
“Let’s see how this plays out in the next few days.
“This is not the first time as something similar occurred in 2014 and that was resolved,” he said.
Ahmad, who works in the oil and gas industry, said he had resided in Doha for the past 10 years with his wife and four children.
He said there were no indications of any security threats or, plans to impose a curfew on Qatar.
As for his family’s return for Hari Raya, he said they were unaffected as they had booked their flight tickets with Qatar Airways.