FAMILIES OF HIJACKED TANKER CREW TOLD ORDEAL WILL BE OVER IN 30-40 DAYS

KOTA BAHARU (Malaysia), Sept 4 (Bernama) -- MISC Bhd had told families of 65 Malaysian crew of two tankers hijacked by pirates off Somalia that the ordeal will be over in 30-40 days.

Mat Salleh@Jusoh Daud,59, said MISC officials conveyed this to family
members at a briefing in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 31.

His son Muhd Nazri,22, was a crew of MT Bunga Melati 5 seized by pirates on
Aug 30 while one on its way from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia to Singapore.

"MISC officials told the family members not to worry and asked them to have
faith in the company and government in their efforts to free the hostages," he
said when met at his house in Kampung Kerasak, Limbat in East Coast of
Peninsular Malaysia in Kelantan Thursday.

Mat Salleh said Nazri sent two SMSes to his sister from Saudi Arabia on Aug
24 but did not know that MT Bunga Melati 2 had been seized by pirates.

"Unfortunately, his tanker Bunga melati 5 was also seized by pirates
several days later and I never heard from him again," he added.

MISC officers had contacted several times urging him to remain patient and
have faith in the government.

Mat Salleh said before the tanker was seized by pirates, he dreamt scolding
his wife Khadijah Yusof,53, for taking some time to open the door.

Meanwhile, Khadijah hoped that Nazri who had planned to get engaged in Dec
would be freed before Aidilfitri.

She would not allow Nazri to work with shipping companies anymore fearing a
repeat of the hijacking.

Nazri returned home in June and was scheduled to be return for a long
holiday in Dec.

"We are confident that MISC and the government will be able to free them by
Aidilfitri," she added.

Mohd Salwadi Mamat, 31, a crew of the hijacked Bunga Melati 2 had been
reported as saying the pirates had demanded a ransom of RM10 million for their
release.

Pirates seized Bunga Melati 2 on Aug 19 and Bunga Melati 5 on Aug 30 in the
Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen.