KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to deploy military troops to conflict areas is not a simple one, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
This, he said, requires input from various parties including the Foreign Ministry, the views of crisis-affected neighbouring countries, and most importantly, a clear mandate from the United Nations (UN).
"Regarding the conflict in Palestine, as of now, the UN has not made any decision to send peacekeepers to Palestine.
"Nevertheless, the Defence Ministry, through the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) serving under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), remains on high alert.
"The ministry is closely monitoring the developments in Palestine and is ready to provide full cooperation to the Foreign Ministry if needed, both for the evacuation of Malaysian citizens in the affected areas and to ensure the safety of Malbatt members in Southern Lebanon," he said during the committee stage winding up session in Dewan Rakyat.
Mohamad said, to this day, Malaysia remains committed to supporting global peace efforts under the banner of the UN.
"This commitment has been evident since 1960, as the armed forces have been involved in 37 missions, whether as observing forces or peacekeeping forces.
"These missions have included peacekeeping efforts in Congo, Somalia, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia Herzegovina, East Timor (now Timor Leste), and most recently, Lebanon."
At present, said Mohamad, the armed forces are still actively engaged in five international missions under the UN, including one peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, since 2007.
"We are also engaged in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco) since 2000; UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (Unisfa) on the border of Sudan and South Sudan since 2006; UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) in Western Sahara since 1991 and UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) in Yemen since 2021."