5. Military Intervention

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian armed forces have yet to receive any request for military assistance to free the crew of two MISC Berhad vessels seized separately by pirates last month in the Gulf of Aden, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal said Tuesday.

He said there was no necessity as yet for military intervention as MISC was seeking a solution through negotiations.

"The MISC is trying to resolve the matter through diplomatic means and we hope a settlement can be reached," he told reporters after receiving Hari Raya goodies for armed forces personnel from the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) at the Siti Hasmah Bakti Building, here.

Abdul Aziz said MISC was using the best means to secure the release of the crew of 65 Malaysians and 15 Filipinos who were on board the two vessels, MT Bunga Melati 2 and MT Bunga Melati 5, which were seized by the pirates on Aug 19 and 29, respectively.

He also said that the armed forces were ready to send troops at any time and that they were monitoring the situation.

"We sent two warships there (the Gulf of Aden) last Saturday but only to monitor the situation," he said.

MT Bunga Melati 2 was seized by pirates as it was carrying palm oil from Dumai in Sumatra, Indonesia, to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The vessel had 39 crew on board, 29 Malaysians and 10 Filipinos.

MT Bunga Melati 5 was seized while ferrying 30,000 tonnes of petrochemicals from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia to Singapore. The vessel had 41 crew, 36 Malaysians and five Filipinos.