A Syrian Man’s Day‑to‑Day Survival at Kuala Lumpur’s Airport
What’s Happening?
Meet Hassan al Kontar, a 36‑year‑old Syrian who’s been living in KLIA2, Kuala Lumpur’s “budget terminal,” for more than a month now. He’s been sharing his wanderings, the little triumphs and the daily struggles on Twitter and Facebook, drawing attention from human‑rights advocates and the local media.
Why He’s Stuck There
- War‑torn Syria – Seven years of civil conflict make returning dangerous.
- He’s deported to Malaysia in 2016 after his passport in UAE was denied renewal by the Syrian embassy.
- He tried booking a flight to Ecuador, but airlines closed his ticket.
- Next stop was Cambodia, only to be turned away again.
- Now he’s been trapped inside the transit zone for 37 days, relying on airport staff for food and supplies.
Hassan’s Perspective
When asked about the fear of being sent back, he didn’t shy away from raw honesty:
“I’m not a coward. I don’t want to be a killing machine, I just don’t believe in fighting. I’m scared of being deported back to Syria, where I’d likely face another round of war,” he told Reuters via Skype.
Since March 7, he’s been navigating showers, laundry “solutions” and other essentials – “Things you never thought about as a problem” become real problems in this situation.
Where the Help Comes From
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed they met with Hassan and are in contact with both him and Malaysian authorities. However, they declined to discuss any individual case. Malaysia’s immigration department and the airport didn’t respond to question.
A Brief History: From UAE to Kuala Lumpur
Before the pandemic, Hassan lived in the UAE when the conflict erupted in Syria. After losing his passport, he was sent to Malaysia, one of the few countries allowing visa‑free entry for Syrians at that time. He spent over a year gathering enough money to buy a plane ticket – how he did it remains a mystery.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Living in KLIA2’s transit zone for over a month is like being in one of those comedies where the protagonist needs a bathroom and the Wi‑Fi keeps dropping in intervals of 15 minutes. He now has to decide whether to:
- Use the surprisingly cozy staff’s clean toilets.
- Take naps in the waiting area, hoping the music volume stays at a pleasant hum.
- Ask unaffected airline employees if the airplane will finally let him board.
The Bigger Picture
Hassan’s plight is reminiscent of Tom Hanks’ The Terminal — a story of a traveler stranded on an American airport after his passport was revoked, though the truth was even longer‑lasting: An Iranian lived at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle for 16 years. In our modern times, people can still find themselves stuck in airports, not because of iPhones or lost luggage, but due to the cruel mechanics of geopolitics.
Takeaway
While the world is glued to headlines about conflict and politics, the voice of a Syrian man drifting between endless rows of airport chairs reminds us that the real story involves human resilience and the quiet battles we all fight daily.
