M'SIAN ARMED FORCES READY TO FACE EVENTUALITY IN GULF OF ADEN

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Armed Forces is prepared to face any eventuality should the negotiation to secure the release of crew members of the hijacked tankers, MT Bunga Melati Dua and MT Bunga Melati 5, fail to reach any agreement.

Chief of Defence Forces Abdul Aziz Zainal, however, said that the armed
forces would only act upon instruction, or when requested by the ship owner, the
Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Bhd (MISC).

"The navy ships sent there are to protect the two hijacked tankers and
three MISC ships now sailing in the area. The armed forces is not involve in the
negotiation.

"We are sending the ships on instruction by the National Security Division.
They cannot take action against the hijackers," he told reporters after
attending the 75th anniversary of the Malaysian armed force here.

However, he said the three ships -- KD Lekiu, KD Inderapura and KD
Mahawangsa -- had enough personnel and assets should they be ordered to
act.

Abdul Aziz said the three ships would only be in the Gulf of Aden for a
period of not more than two months.

"We have no plan to send additional personnel. Negotiation is still
ongoing;
we hope for the best," he said.

The MT Bunga Melati 2, with 39 crew members, was hijacked while sailing in
the pirate-infested water on Aug 19.

Ten days later, another ship, MT Bunga Melati 5, with 41 crewmen, was
hijacked by pirates in the same area.

Asked whether the armed forces would cooperate with armed forces from other
countries to tackle piracy problem in the Gulf of Aden, he said, there was no
plan at the moment.