Malaysian PM says release of two Malaysian tankers was God's gift!!!

PULVERISE THE SOMALI PIRATES

IT WAS NOT GOD'S GIFT, IT WAS THE POWER OF US$ 4 MILLION,

in ransoms paid to pirates.

BERNAMA REPORTS THIS:

“Release Of Pirate-held MISC Vessels God's Hari Raya Gift, Says PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tuesday described as God's "Hari Raya" gift the release of the two MISC Berhad tankers seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden last month.

"This is a Hari Raya (Aidilfitri) gift from God to us, especially the families of the crew of MT Bunga Melati 2 and MT Bunga Melati 5," he told Bernama when commenting on the release of the two ships.

Abdullah said he was grateful for the release of MT Bunga Melati 2 yesterday and the safety of the vessel's crew. The pirates had released MT Bunga Melati 5 on Sunday.

"I am also happy to know that the Royal Malaysia Navy team we sent there has discharged its duties with dedication and good judgment. I extend my appreciation to them for having striven to secure the release of both our vessels," he said.

Both the vessels were held by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden for more than 40 days."

MISC Berhad chairman Hassan Marican conveyed the news of the release of MT Bunga Melati Dua, the second vessel to be released early yesterday soon after he got news of the release.

Hassan when

"Asked how much ransom was paid to the pirates for the release of the two vessels, he said: "I do not want to state the amount. Of more importance is that the negotiations were successful and the crew members have been released.”

Link HERE

The total amount paid in ransom was US $ 4 million (RM 18.8 million):

Source Lloyds List 29^th September 2008:

Both the Bunga Melati Lima and the Stella Maris and their crews were released at the weekend with ransoms totaling US $4m reported to have been paid.

A ransom of US $2m was reportedly paid for the release of the Bunga Melati Lima. As yet the shipowner MISC has made no statement on the release of the vessel.

On Saturday the Panama-flagged supramax Stella Maris and its crew of 20 Filipinos was also reported to have been released after a US $2m ransom was paid.

The other MISC tanker the Bunga Melati Dua hijacked 10-days earlier in the Gulf of Aden continues to be held by the Somali pirates and negotiations for its release are ongoing.

The chemical tanker Bunga Melati Dua hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 19 and its crew of 38 were freed early on Monday after MISC reportedly paid a US $2m ransom.

Lloyds List 30^th September 2008:

The remaining MISC tanker held by Somali pirates was released on Monday following a ransom payment by the shipowner.

The chemical tanker Bunga Melati Dua hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 19 and its crew of 38 were freed early on Monday after MISC reportedly paid a $2m ransom.

The BERNAMA story above, is a very misleading, and is seeminly based on what is a typical politically manipulative statement by the PM.

The release certainly had nothing to do with the Royal Malaysian Navy, and certainly nothing to do with God.

It was just about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Ransoms reportedly totally US $ 4 million were paid out to the pirates, whilst it is very good news that the vessels and their crew are released, it is in my view counter productive to pay ransoms, especially to pirates.

Such hijackings should be prevented by strict coordinated naval action,;the pirates should be strictly dealt with as exactly what they are, common pirates, they should be aggressively attacked, their boats sunk, and no survivors should be taken.

Not a politically correct course of action, of course, but it will certainly be most effective, piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coasts of Somalia will very soon stop.

Ut humiliter opinor

In my humble opinion