M’sia backs Saudi-led alliance against terror

All smiles: Hishammuddin posing together with Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and Deputy Secretary-General (Development) Datuk Dr Rothiah Omar with the winners during the Mindef Innovation Day in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: There will not be any military commitment from Malaysia in its support of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to form a 34-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, said Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Hussein.

“It is not unusual for us (Malaysia) to support the initiative as it has always been our stand (against militancy and IS).

“For the initiative by Saudi Arabia this time, there is no military commitment but it is more of an understanding that we are together in the combat against militancy,” said the Defence Minister after opening the ministry’s Innovation Day celebrations here yesterday.

Reuters reported a statement published on state news agency SPA that Saudi Arabia yesterday announced the formation of a 34-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism.

“The countries here mentioned have decided on the formation of a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism, with a joint operations centre based in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations,” the statement said.

A long list of Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, together with Islamic countries Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and Gulf Arab and African states were mentioned.

The announcement cited “a duty to protect the Islamic nation from the evils of all terrorist groups and organisations whatever their sect and name which wreak death and corruption on earth and aim to terrorise the innocent”.

Hishammuddin also said a special court for terror suspects had been discussed and approved in principle by the National Security Council but the details of the special court was yet to be discussed by the judiciary.