NO PLAN TO SEND REPLACEMENT VESSEL, SAYS PGPF ADVISOR

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The Perdana Global Peace Foundation
(PGPF) has no plan to send another ship to take over the mission of sending
much-needed PVC plastic pipes to Gaza Strip from MV Finch, the Malaysian aid
vessel which was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday.

PGPF advisor Mukhriz Mahathir said it was not easy to get another
vessel as it would be a costly affair.

"For the time being, we'll focus on the 'Spirit of Rachel Corrie' or
'MV Finch' as it was originally known. We have no plan so far to despatch
another ship," he told reporters after the launch of the "Train the Trainers"
programme organised by the Malaysia Automotive Institute and Kagan Institute of
Australia here Wednesday.

According to Mukhriz, latest information showed that the cargo ship was
still anchored off Egypt's El-Arish port awaiting approval from Egyptian
authorities to dock.

He said all 12 passengers and crew members onboard were safe.


Once approval was obtained, the vessel would berth and its cargo of PVC
pipes transported by land to Gaza via Rafah, said Mukhriz.

"I'm optimistic that the Egyptian government will give the approval. So far,
we have received good cooperation from them," he added.

The ship, which is carrying 7.5km of PVC pipes meant to help restore Gaza's
devastated sewerage system, came under attack at 6.54am Jordanian time (11.54am
in Malaysia) on Monday.

Nobody was injured in the incident which saw Israel naval forces firing
shots at the ship.