SHAH ALAM: I know I have been writing about this several times in the past but it’s look like the crunch is on us. I have written previously that Malaysia will only take part in operations in Yemen as part of a UN peace keeping force.
However it’s looking likely we will have to make a decision about that sooner rather than later and without any UN mandate.
As you are aware, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein met his Saudi Arabia counterpart Mohamad Salman in Jeddah last night.
A release on the meeting by Hishammuddin office stated that both countries agreed to forge better ties on intelligence on IS. Both ministers also discussed the current situation in the Middle East. Hishammuddin said he told the Saudi Defence Minister, who is also the Deputy Crown Prince he appreciated the accommodation, facilities and needs given to Malaysian Armed Force personnel stationed in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi for a humanitarian mission.
Although the release seemed to suggest that the meeting was an ordinary one, circumstances at the moment meant that we can wonder what actually transpired. It is unlikely though Hishammuddin will be able to announce something substantive without reporting to the Cabinet first.
One thing for certain, the timing of the latest meeting – on the verge of the Haj – one of the most important event in the Muslim calendar – suggested it’s more than that.
Coupled with the fact that the Saudi led coalition is facing daily casualties in their operations in Yemen again suggested that this meeting could be a defining moment for the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Najib administration.
Interestingly, Indonesian president Joko Widodo was in the Middle East region recently. We wonder whether he too faced the vexed question facing Malaysia. Pakistan had already said no, so that is that.
To be or not to be, that is the question. We have to wait and see.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (44)
When the body bags start coming home, the pan-Arabs on this page (who also want to build their own fighter) will be less enthusiastic about sending our troops to Yemen. If Putrajaya really does this, I will laugh at their stupidity. This is a problem for the lavishly equipped militaries of the middle east, not for us.
Well they already have Typhoon and Eagle over there, seems they want our Cik Su to join in as well.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha and have a good holiday!
The Saudis (who had previously got involved in Yemen against Nasser) and other GCC countries now realise what the West discovered after its adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq: easy to get in but a wee bit harder to disengage.
Operational experience would be excellent but I fear our budget cannot support the extra funding required. Or lost vehicles and aircraft. Its getting to be a real nasty war there and we can see the Saudis aren't nearly as good as their hardware suggests.
Reply
It's unlikely we will pay for anything apart from the normal salary paid to the soldiers involved. As for the equipment again it's unlikely we will be using MAF weapons .
For me the Yemen crisis is not about religion or sect like some one might suggest. Its about power. Stop using islam as an excuse for ur own stupidity (the same thing is happening in Malaysia when one side is assuming that he is more 'pious' the other guy).This arabs will never learn... But if islam holy sites were under attack thats a different story.
Shed,
what if the said islam holy sites were invaded by muslims as well? weren't the Sauds took Makkah from the al-Rashid?
Hell with the operational experience. We should not ever get involved in a conflict which has no bearing on us. The GCC countries are in Yemen not because they care about the Yemeni people or about human rights and democracy but because it involves Iran (same reason they are so hell bent on over throwing undemocratic Assad Junior, despite none of the GCC countries being themselves democratic).
The GCC countries spend much, much more on defence, let them sort out the mess they have got themselves in. If they really wanted to contribute to peace and stability as they claim, they should be doing more to assist the Iraqis in defeating IS.
When asked whether Malaysia would deploy troops to Saudi in case Iraq invaded; Mahathir gave a shrewed answer. He said only if the holy places were threatened would Malaysian troops be deployed. He off course knew that Iraq had no intention of threatening the holy places and that even if it did; the U.S. (which was responsible for the defence of Saudi) would never allow such a scenario to occur.
Duit dah ambil. Kontrak belum keluar.
The situation on the ground in Yemen is looking to be as complicated as in Syria, Iraq and Libya (which makes Afghanistan look like a walk in the park)
You have:
Factions loyal to the ex president, ISIS, al-qaeda, the houthis; all fighting against each other.
Would it be good if we go there? I don't think so...