Malaysia to follow UN decision on any Malbatt deployment to Yemen, says defence minister

KOTA TINGGI, Sept 20 — Malaysia will follow any United Nations (UN) decision regarding a potential deployment of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) peacekeeping force to Yemen, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated. The minister, who is also representing the Kota Tinggi constituency, emphasized that any action must be based on a UN decision, stressing that Malaysia would not make unilateral decisions.

"Malaysia's decision will be guided by the decision made by the UN, rather than us acting on our own," he told reporters after attending a local celebration. According to Mohamed Khaled, peacekeeping forces are typically deployed once parties to a conflict agree to a peace settlement, with the forces responsible for ensuring the terms of the agreement are upheld.

However, he noted that the situation in Yemen is different as the conflict continues. The UN has never sent a force to participate in a war; it is a conflict and the fighting is still ongoing, he explained. Deploying forces in the midst of a war could put personnel at risk of losing their lives, he warned. Consequently, he ruled out Malaysia unilaterally sending troops to Yemen, stating that any decision must await a UN determination.

This comes amidst recent intensifying hostilities in Yemen, including fierce fighting along the western coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which has forced over 100,000 people to flee their homes.