SEVEN PIRATES EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN MALAYSIA NEXT MONDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Seven pirates who were detained by
members of the Malaysian Armed Forces in the Gulf of Aden on Friday for seizing
a Malaysian merchant ship, MT Bunga Laurel, are expected to arrive in this
country on Monday to face trial.

Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the pirates, who were
on their way to this country, were expected to arrive at Port Klang on Jan 31.

"Immediately upon arrival, they will be handed over to the Royal Malaysian
Police for further action," he told reporters after a ceremony to present
compensation cheques to widows of six Malaysian soldiers who died or were
injured while serving under the United Nations peace mission and the
presentation of Malaysian Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Malaysia - PJM), here
Monday.

In the incident on Friday, the efficiency of the Malaysian Armed Forces was
again proven when they rescued the MT Bunga Laurel after being captured for two
hours by pirates about 333 nautical miles (555 kilometres) east of Oman.

The rescue mission was carried out together with the Royal Malaysian Navy
auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas 5, which was involved in the operation codenamed
'Operasi Fajar' to provide protection to the MT Bunga Laurel which was then
passing through the Gulf of Aden.


In the incident at about 11.40pm, the merchant ship leased by MISC Berhad
had been captured by seven Somalian pirates armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.


Twenty-three crew members of the MT Bunga Laurel were rescued without any
bloodshed while the seven pirates were detained, including three who were
injured during the exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, among those who received the compensation cheques from the UN was
Kamisah Hamdah, wife of the late Warrant Officer II Azman Mohd Tahir, who was
killed in am ambush by Somalian militia on July 18, 1994. Kamisah received a
compensation of RM285,143.27. (US$1=RM3.06)

Biah @Rabiah Dollah, wife of the late Sgt Abd Kadir Bakri received a cheque
for RM240,129.55.

Abdul Kadir was killed in an accident while returning from an assignment to
escort a Brown Root and Hunter Base logistics convoy to the Mogadishu airport on
Oct 15, 1994.



Others who received the UN compensation included the wife of the late Cpl
R.Magendran, N.Nalini, who died of fever while on duty in Cambodia with the UN
team on Aug 27, 192. Nalini received a compensation of RM143,073.36.

Siti Zauyah Yahya, wife of the late Cpl Mat Aznan Awang received
RM192,931.48. Mat Aznan was killed while trying to rescue American troops who
were being surrounded by Somalian militia in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993.

The recipients of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia were the President of Airod, Capt
(Rtd) Ahmad Johan, Brig Gen (Rtd) Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman who is
the executive director of MRO Services, Col (Rtd) Abdul Hamid Abdullah,
chief executive of Airod Techno Power Sdn Bhd, and Col (Rtd) Mohamed Selamat
Bakin, chief executive of Technology System Corp Sdn Bhd.