THE matter at stake in sending Royal Malay Regiment soldiers for duties at Buckingham is not tourism but Malaysia's dignity. I doubt that Britain will accede to sending their forces to Malaysia for guard duties at Istana Negara.

There will be a hue and cry for the blood of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

I would not have objected if the Defence Ministry had instead deployed, say, 120-odd men, comprising soldiers and a brass band, to major British cities for road marches or something of that nature.

But guard duties at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James Palace makes a mockery of the principles of nationhood.