SAFELY ARRIVED

Published: Sunday June 6, 2010 MYT 8:39:00 AM
Updated: Sunday June 6, 2010 MYT 6:01:54 PM

Six M'sians on Rachel Corrie, captured by Israeli forces, arrive safely in Jordan (Update 2)

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

KUALA LUMPUR: The six Malaysians on board the seized MV Rachel Corrie arrived safely in Jordan at about 5pm Sunday after Israeli authorities expelled them early Sunday.

Like the 12 Malaysians captured by Israelis on Monday's raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, the six are expected to board a flight home to Malaysia as soon as possible.

One of the six, journalist Shamsul Akmar, said that Israeli authorities had confiscated their cameras, laptops and mobile phone SIM cards.

As Malaysia has no diplomatic contact with Israel, the six would try to get their possessions back through the Thai embassy in Israel, he said.

“Generally, we were well treated,” said Shamsul.

Aside from Shamsul, the others are lawyer Matthias Chang, Parit Member of Parliament Mohd Nizar Zakaria, activist Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and TV3 crew members Halim Mohamed and Mohd Jufri Judin.

Earlier Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the Jordanian Foreign Ministry had informed the Malaysian Embassy that the six Malaysians would enter Jordan via the King Hussein Bridge.

"As for the latest status of Rachel Corrie, I was informed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman that the ship was seized by the Israeli army about 30 nautical miles from Gaza.

"They were taken to Port Ashdod and the 19 passengers and crew, including six Malaysians are safe," Muhyiddin told reporters at KLIA earlier Sunday.

Muhyiddin was at the airport to receive 12 Malaysians who were detained by Israeli defence forces while on board aid ship Mavi Marmara that was heading to Gaza with humanitarian aid, and later released from an Israeli prison.

The Deputy Prime Minister also gave his assurance that the Malaysian government would continue to assist humanitarian missions aimed at helping the people of Palestine.

He added that Malaysia would also support attempts and calls by anyone to condemn the Israeli government for such violence.

"It is up to the people, if they want to take any form of action, the government will not stop them.

"We will support such initiatives, including that by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who initiated the mission. We will give the necessary aid and support," he said.