Malaysia will launch tonight an operation to bring home about 3,300 Malaysian students from strife torn Egypt, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced in Putrajaya.

He said commercial aircraft would be used to fly back the students who wished to return voluntarily.

The air tickets would be purchased beginning tonight and the flights would come via Amman (Jordan) and Istanbul (Turkey) as well as several other places, he told reporters soon after arriving to attend the Aidilfitri open house hosted by chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, here.

NONE Najib said he learned from a report sent by National Security Council secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab, who is in Egypt, that the situation there was in a state of uncertainty and could worsen.

"As such, our people advised that we launch the operation to bring back our students who wish to return voluntarily. I agreed," he said.

Najib said the government would not use military planes because the Charlie aircraft, for example, would involve logistical problems and higher expenditure besides the special permission necessary from certain countries because the aircraft had to make two or three stops.

The prime minister said the safety of the students was the government's priority and bringing them back could not be delayed because there was a possibility of the situation becoming more serious, more critical and, perhaps, more dangerous.

Najib said he had had a discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, on the procedure for examinations to be taken by the students who returned home.

Asked whether the government would retain Egypt as a destination for higher education in the future, the prime minister said the matter was being looked into.

"The Al-Azhar University, for example is a leading university, acclaimed and distinguished. If we want to look for an alternative place for their studies, we have to examine whether we can work together with the Al-Azhar University or find an alternative.

Asked about the request by PAS for a special session of Parliament to discuss the crisis in Egypt, Najib said that was unnecessary because bringing back the students was more important.

Tension high, violence triggered

In Egypt, almost 1,000 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi since last Wednesday when the military moved in to disperse two protest camps of Morsi's supporters in Cairo, killing hundreds of people and triggering violence.

Tensions between the sides have been high since the army ousted Morsi on July 3 following days of protests by millions of Egyptians demanding the Islamist president leave and accusing him of abusing his powers.

But Morsi's supporters have fought back, staging demonstrations demanding that he be reinstated.

Replying to a question, he said that for the moment the operation to bring back Malaysians from Egypt would involve students whereas others such as businessmen could return on their own.

Najib said the students had been informed of the government initiative to bring them home but details such as the timeframe to get them out of Egypt was being worked out. "... it is all subject to how many flights or seats on flights can be secured over the next day or two," he said.

- Bernama