M'SIA THANKS JORDAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING SEIZED M'SIANS OUT OF ISRAEL

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has thanked Jordan for its
assistance in the safe passage of 12 Malaysian volunteers out of Israel which
had detained them among hundreds seized in Monday's raid on a Gaza humanitarian
ship convoy.

A Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) statement confirmed that the 12 arrived
safely in Jordan at 11.20am Malaysian time following their release by the
Israeli authorities Wednesday.

The Malaysians were received upon their arrival at the King Hussein Bridge
in Jordan by Malaysian ambassador Abdul Malek Aziz.

Arrangements are being made to bring them home.

"The Government of Malaysia would like to express its deepest gratitude to
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its assistance in successfully brnging the
Malaysians out of Israel," the statement said.


It added that Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was on his way to
Jordan to thank the Jordanian Government and to meet with the Malaysians.

The 12 including a two-member Astro Awani television crew were on board the
Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara" which was stormed by Israeli forces in international
waters with 10 reported killed.

Meanwhile, Malaysian and Irish peace and humanitarian activists on board the
MV Rachel Corrie, also bound for Gaza with humanitarian aid, appealed to the
international community and United Nations to continue to demand Israel allow
the vessel safe passage into Gaza.

"We expect Israel to respond to the international comdemnation of its
violence by not impeding by any means the safe passage of the Rachel Corrie,"
they said in a joint statement.

The statement was e-mailed to the media by Malaysian lawyer, Matthias Chang,
one of half dozen Malaysian volunteerss on the vessel.


They also shared their grief and sense of loss with the loved ones of those
killed or injured on "Mavi Marmara".

"In the name of our friends, we are more determined than ever to continue
into Gaza with our humanitarian cargo and express our support for the blockaded
and suffering people of Gaza," the statement added.

-- BERNAMA