KUALA LUMPUR, May 17-Malaysia is ready to send members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) for peacekeeping mission in Palestine, if requested by the United Nations (UN).
Senior Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, Malaysia cannot send troops alone to Palestine because it is bound by international law.
“If the UN asks countries like Malaysia to send troops under the UN banner as a peacekeeping mission for the United Nations..God willing.
“But it must be decided by the UN. Malaysia cannot make a unilateral decision to send, but it must be under the invitation of the UN and the UN banner, not under our own country, so that is the rule.” he said.
He said this at a press conference after listening to a briefing on MAF Health Services Readiness in Helping the Nation to Face the COVID-19 Outbreak at the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital, today.
He added that Malaysia had previously sent many military personnel for peacekeeping missions under the UN banner.
“Indeed, we have sent peacekeepers under the UN banner to Lebanon, the Philippines, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Congo and so on,
“But everything is under the banner of the United Nations, not based on each country can send their troops to other countries,” he explained.