Kuala lumpur: Malaysia will request the United Nations (UN) to review the terms of deployment for peacekeeping missions, including the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) 850-13 under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following the worsening security situation in the country. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that the current situation in Lebanon is no longer conducive for a peacekeeping mission, raising concerns over the safety of more than 500 MALBATT personnel stationed there.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Hasan emphasized that the situation in Lebanon has shifted from a peacekeeping environment to one where active conflict is occurring, necessitating a reassessment of the mission's terms and duration. He mentioned that discussions have already taken place with the Defence Ministry regarding the potential risks faced by MALBATT personnel.
"The situation in Lebanon is no longer aligned with a peacekeeping mission. MALBATT is a peacekeeping force, but there is now a war taking place," Mohamad Hasan explained. He expressed the need for the UN to review the mission to prevent undue risk and injury to the peacekeeping personnel. Despite the mission being scheduled to end later this year, Malaysia cannot withdraw its personnel unilaterally as the deployment falls under a UN mandate.
Mohamad Hasan further stated that should the UN Security Council determine that the mission is no longer aligned with its security objectives, it might consider shortening the mission period. "It is no longer safe, and we do not want Malaysian or other countries' peacekeepers to be injured or killed," he added.
To address these concerns, Malaysia has instructed its Permanent Representative to the UN to engage with UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres. The representative is tasked with coordinating with other troop-contributing countries to prepare a joint memorandum to the UN, advocating for an earlier review of the mission's terms.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Cabinet has directed the Defence Ministry to halt patrol operations by MALBATT personnel, requiring them to remain at base as a precautionary measure. In a separate issue, Mohamad Hasan mentioned that Malaysia is closely monitoring six Malaysian oil tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to its closure, despite having prior passage approval. One vessel has safely exited and is en route to Johor, while the remaining six are under observation.