Two Malaysian journalists in Iraq who earlier considered returning after last Saturday's attack o­n a Malaysian convoy have decided to remain o­n their mission and journey into Baghdad for further reporting.

The journalists from Tamil-language newspapers Malaysia Nanban and Tamil Nesan had indicated their intention to return last week after a kidnapping incident involving three other journalists and two Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) volunteers.

Acting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi o­n Tuesday expressed hope that the handful of Malaysian journalists wanting to return will reconsider their plans.

Malaysia Nanban

news editor M Rajan said yesterday the newspaper's sole representative in Iraq, sub-editor A Rathakrishnan, and another colleague from a Tamil-language newspaper had decided to join a second Malaysian team of journalists headed for the capital today.

"After the shooting and kidnapping last week, he had asked our permission to return. We asked him to decide according to the situation. However, he and another colleague changed their minds o­n Sunday and decided to stay o­n," he said when contacted.

Cost not a factor

Rathakrishnan is o­ne of 40 Malaysian journalists sent to Iraq under the Joint Media Team Malaysia (JMTM) mission co-organised by the Information Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

On Saturday, three JMTM members - New Straits Times photographer Mohd Anuar Hashim, RTM cameraman Omar Salleh and The Sun chief reporter Terence Fernandez - and two Mercy Malaysia volunteers were kidnapped by a group of armed Iraqi militia in Baghdad while returning to their hotel after dispensing medicine and aid at two hospitals.

Mercy president Dr Jemilah Mahmood and colleague Dr Baba Deni suffered gunshot wounds during the attack while an Iraqi pharmacist and Syrian driver travelling with the group were killed. The group was released after being held up for three hours.

Asked if the duo's decision to return earlier was prompted by the high costs of reporting in Iraq, Rajan said this was not the case since the JMTM mission was sponsored by the government.

Tamil Nesan

chief editor MS Malayandy was, however, less certain of the plans of its representative in Iraq.

"We have no idea when he might be coming back. We cannot contact him so we have to wait until he calls us," he said.

Exit passage

Mercy Malaysia Communications Manager Shareen Abdul Ghani said the organisation is still trying to secure an exit passage for its two injured volunteers.

To facilitate the arrangements, Shareen said Mercy had dispatched two volunteers to Amman in neighbouring Jordan, to effect the evacuation of the five-member Mercy team in Iraq.

"At present, we o­nly know that they are travelling between Baghdad and Amman. We can confirm that our evacuation team has arrived in Amman but we don't know exactly when they might be able to return," she said during a telephone interview.

Shareen said Mercy's immediate plans are to fly home the injured personnel as well as its remaining volunteers in Iraq. "Our office in Jordan will remain open. We have o­ne country representative there."

She was, however, unable to confirm if the three Malaysian journalists involved in the militia attack would be returning with the medics.

'Get out of Iraq'

Meanwhile, several press reports o­n the experiences of the JMTM members in Iraq have raised questions as to whether adequate arrangements had been made by the organisers to prepare for the difficult mission.

In an editorial letter Tuesday, The Sun said it had issued instructions for its reporter in Baghdad to "get out of Iraq at the first available opportunity".

The letter said the evacuation of Terence Fernandez was prompted by several reasons, among others, concerns over his safety.

In addition, the editorial cited communication difficulties and inconsistent electricity supply for pulling back their reporter. "Yesterday, (Fernandez) called o­n a borrowed satellite phone to say that he can't send his stories because there is no power."

On Monday , the Star carried a report saying nine Malaysian journalists in Baghdad may face a predicament due to escalating food and hotel prices.

Asked about preparations prior to their departure, Rajan said reporters were required to attend several briefings by the JMTM organisers.

"They were told the dos and don'ts (of reporting from Baghdad). The reporters prepared themselves based o­n the briefings and they were each given bullet-proof jackets," he said.

Rajan said although there have been reports that reporters in Baghdad were facing difficulties, Rathakrishnan had apparently not faced any problems.

Inconspicuous journey

The Star

executive editor Wong Chun Wai said early discussions were made among editors in the organisation regarding the posting of reporters to Iraq before the idea came about for the setting up of JMTM.

"We looked into the various means and modes of transport for our reporters to get to Baghdad and it was decided that it should be done in an inconspicuous manner," he said.

He said The Star 's reporter in Baghdad Shahanaaz Sher Habib had travelled to the capital city with an Iraqi family and a driver.

"She arranged for her own journey. Although we provided her with back-up and logistics and ensured she had sufficient money, we also hooked her up with (foreign news agency AFP )," he said.

Asked about the estimated expenditure of sending three of its reporters to Iraq independent of the JMTM venture, Wong said the costs had not been calculated as yet.

"However, that is not the main issue. As long as it is safe - that would be the main thing," he said.

Two of the journalists have since returned after failing to go into Baghdad, leaving Shahanaaz as the o­nly Star reporter there.