KOTA TINGGI: Malaysia will consider its next course of action regarding the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) peacekeeping mission when the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) mandate expires at the end of the year, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said Putrajaya had received representatives from the United Nations (UN) for discussions, including increased preparations for Malbatt personnel in Lebanon and the future of Unifil.
“We discussed next steps for when the mandate expires at the end of this year and the process of bringing back our personnel.
“Due to the continuous attacks by Israel, we looked at whether to continue the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon,” he said after launching the Jiwa Murni programme at SK Johor Kampong here on Saturday (June 13).
He said the UN Security Council had previously decided that the Unifil mandate would end in December.
However, Khaled said the decision on whether to remain or bring the personnel back was still being deliberated by the Security Council following ongoing developments in Lebanon.
“The UN has to discuss this through the Security Council. If it is decided that Unifil needs to continue, Malaysia is prepared to be involved in sending our forces,” he added.
Asked about the recent injuries involving two Malbatt personnel in Lebanon, Khaled said the ministry has issued guidance to ensure the safety of its personnel.
“The two personnel suffered minor injuries after being hit by shrapnel from an explosion that occurred some distance away and were receiving treatment at the location,” he said.
Two Malaysian peacekeepers serving with the Malbatt 850-13 in southern Lebanon reportedly sustained minor injuries after a nearby airstrike on Thursday (June 11) morning.
The incident occurred at about 9.25am local time, approximately 1km west of the United Nations Position 6-43 in Tibnin.
In other developments, Khaled stressed that national security could not rely solely on the armed forces as modern threats had become increasingly complex.
He said threats today included hybrid and cyber threats, cognitive warfare, geopolitical tensions as well as border and maritime security issues such as human trafficking and smuggling.
“Security cannot be left entirely to the Malaysian Armed Forces alone.
“The people can play an important role through patriotism and unity, not being influenced by provocations, fake news and perceptions, as well as building community resilience,” he said.
