Under whose authority Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was willing to commit Malaysian troops to the Middle-East?
Hishammuddin’s statement that the armed forces were ready to be deployed to the Middle-East if the situation warranted it is “irresponsible”, as a country’s defence minister should not act on the basis of whims and fancies.
No defence minister could or should commit the armed forces for a distant cause without proper understanding of the situation.
I would like to know who authorised Hishammuddin to prepare the army to be deployed in the Middle-East? Was there a special session of parliament on this matter for the matter to be debated?
Was it a mere political statement or was Hishammuddin trying to please the Arab Muslims by showing “the good intentions and loyalty” of Umno leaders for the Palestinian cause, or was it to get the support of the Malays in the coming general election?
Hishammuddin, who is also Umno vice-president, said the Malaysian Armed Forces were prepared to head to the Middle-East if Malaysia’s services were needed there, following the US government’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, during his winding-up speech at the 71st Umno general assembly.
Yes, Malaysia and many other countries are incensed by the action of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.
Many Muslim and non-Muslim nations which are keen to resolve the long standing quest for a separate Palestinian state are unhappy with this recognition.
However, there was no imminent danger of an all out war in the region.
The recognition of Jerusalem might result in large-scale protests and even low key attacks against Israel but not a major conflict that might predispose the United Nations to despatch peace keeping forces.
There is no possibility that such a situation might arise, but if it does it will doubtful whether Malaysia will be asked to send troops for a peace-keeping mission.
Given this, I don’t know why Hishammuddin had to jump the gun by saying that Malaysia was ready to send troops to the Middle-East.