TWO M'SIAN NAVY SHIPS RETURN FROM GULF OF ADEN

LUMUT (Malaysia), Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Two Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN)
warships that were involved in the 'Ops Fajar' to rescue two Malaysian
International Shipping Corporation (MISC) ships that were seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden last month will return to the RMN base here on Monday.

The Fleet Operations Commander of the Lumut RMN Base, Vice Admiral Ahmad
Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said a welcoming ceremony would be held for
the national heroes who had to spend the Hari Raya at sea.

"The two ships, KD Lekiu and KD Inderapura, which were assigned to provide
protection to MISC ships following attacks by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, are
expected to arrive at about 10 am together with 700 personnel from the various
branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces involved," he said here
Wednesday.

Besides the crew of the KD Lekiu and KD Inderapura, others who were
involved in the Ops Fajar were members of the Navy Commando (Paskal), Royal
Malaysian Air Force and the Army Commando.

Another RMN ship that was involved in the operation, KD Mahawangsa,
meanwhile will continue to be stationed in the Gulf of Aden to escort merchant
ships belonging to Malaysia that were plying the dangerous waters.

Lumut is a small town (population 31,880) in the northern state of Perak,
Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA