SOCHI, Russia: Malaysia has requested Vietnam to extradite eight hijackers of the Malaysian tanker, MT Orkim Harmony, to enable them to be tried in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he made the request during his meeting with Vietnam’s new Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.
“This is a specific request,” he told Malaysian journalists after attending the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit which concluded on Friday.
He said the Vietnamese Prime Minister was prepared to consider the request.
MT Orkim Harmony which was carrying 6,000 tonnes of petrol valued at RM21 million was reported missing on June 11 last year while on the way from Melaka to Kuantan Port in Pahang.
Eight suspects were later arrested by Vietnamese authorities near Tho Chu island, in southern Vietnam on June 19.
Vietnam requested Malaysia to consider reopening the recruitment of foreign workers from Vietnam following the move by the government to freeze the intake of foreign workers.
Najib said Malaysia had received the proposal from Vietnam for the implementation of the 2016-2018 Malaysian-Vietnam Action Plan.
He also congratulated Xuan Phuc on his appointment as Prime Minister and invited him to visit Malaysia. — Bernama