KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government is firm on its stand on not interfering in the issue of the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, in reiterating the stance, said the presence of Armed Forces troops at the front base in Saudi Arabia was solely for humanitarian reasons, which was to evacuate Malaysians in Yemen.
"It is the manifestation of the government's commitment to help Malaysians in Yemen," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Hishammuddin (BN-Sembrong) was replying to a question from Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Amanah-Parit Buntar) on Malaysia's involvement in the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Hishammuddin said the early involvement of Malaysian troops began in April 2015, when two C130 transporter aircraft were used to evacuate 70 Malaysians from Aden, Yemen to Djibouti, Eritrea by sea, and flown to a safe area in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.
He said to date, a total of 673 Malaysians have been brought home.
Hishammuddin said although both parties have gone to the negotiation table, the situation in Yemen is still volatile.
"It's showing no positive signs towards peace, and is in fact becoming more aggressive and dangerous.
"Until January this year, it is estimated that close to 500 Malaysians are still in Yemen," he added.