BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): The second flight of the Malaysian Battalion Contingent (MALBATT) 850-12 contingent, including four members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), embarked on their peacekeeping mission as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday, according to a press release from Ministry of Defence (MinDef).
The deployment, consisting of 219 personnel, departed from Subang Airbase aboard a Batik Air Airbus A330-300.
The send-off ceremony was marked by the presence of Major General Dato Tong Veng Leong of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Assistant Chief of Staff, J3 of the Joint Forces Headquarters of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
The event also saw the attendance of Lieutenant Colonel Rudie Asmawi Abidin, Brunei Darussalam’s Defence Adviser to Malaysia, senior MAF officers, and family members of the contingent.
The ceremony commenced with a General Salute from the contingent, followed by the MAF song and an address by the Guest of Honour. The event concluded with a rousing “Gempur Wira” battle cry and the recitation of the Doa, invoking blessings for the safety and success of the peacekeepers.
The deployment of the MALBATT 850-12 contingent to Lebanon is part of an ongoing commitment to international peacekeeping efforts. The mission aims to maintain stability and security in the region.
The RBAF has been participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission under MALBATT since 2008.
Two more flights carrying subsequent members of the contingent are scheduled to depart for Lebanon on November 14 and 18, 2024. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
