“Government constantly monitors the safety of Malbatt in Lebanon,” says Prime Minister Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defense Ministry (Mindef) consistently monitors the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-11, currently engaged in peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon. The Dewan Rakyat received this information on Monday (Nov. 4).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the ministry also talks to their staff there almost every day to make sure that everyone is safe and present.

“We remain committed to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and adhere to the regulations established by the UN.” Azri Mat Yacob, our ambassador to Lebanon, remains in Beirut, closely monitoring the situation.

“Some people have asked us to leave Lebanon, but we stand with Unifil, and we are making decisions about the peacekeeping forces with Indonesia and Brunei as a group,” he told Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) and Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik).

Anwar announced the relocation of Malbatt 850-12 from November 6 to November 18.

Anwar added that Poland led a statement condemning Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, which included Malaysia and 33 other Unifil member countries.

“Never before have even major powers been as careless, violent, and oppressive as Israel is right now.”

He said, “There was almost no country that willingly ignored all international laws, rules, and regulations to the point of putting UN staff in Lebanon in danger.”

Therefore, he stated, Malaysia will persist in its belief that sending Unifil members to the conflict-torn area is necessary to ensure safety.

Besides Malaysia, 50 other UN member states are also participating in the Unifil operation, with a total of 10,058 staff and officers. The Bernama