Were you at the meeting on Op Yaman 2, Zahid asks Chin Tong

Asila Jalil Asila Jalil Updated 7 years ago · Published on 4 Dec 2018 12:30PM · 5 Comments

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not comment beyond questioning how Liew Chin Tong concluded the cabinet had not approved the deployment of Malaysian troops to Saudi Arabia. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 4, 2018.

OPPOSITION leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants to know how Liew Chin Tong concluded that the previous cabinet did not approve the deployment of Malaysian military personnel to Saudi Arabia under Op Yaman 2.
The former deputy prime minister asked if the deputy defence minister was at the cabinet meeting when Op Yaman 2 was discussed.

“I would like to ask first, was he (Liew) involved in the cabinet meeting?” he told reporters in Parliament lobby today, but refused to commetn further.

Yesterday, Liew said in Parliament that the cabinet had not approved the deployment of Malaysian military  personnel to assist the Saudi-led coalition’s military operations in Yemen.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin later said in the house yesterday that the matter was never discussed at the cabinet.

He said the deployment since 2015 has been discontinued on September 4 after the Pakatan Harapan government saw that it was not in line with Malaysia’s policy of neutrality. 

He also estimated that 700 Malaysians were still in Yemen. 

A coalition of Gulf Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia has been involved in a civil war in Yemen in since 2015. Huthi rebels, a movement mostly composed of Shia tribesmen and are believed to be suppported by Iran, have controlled Yemen since 2014 when they overthrew the governement of  Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is allied to Saudi Arabia. 

Iran is seen as Saudi Arabia’s rival for primacy in the Persian Gulf.

‘’Originally, the Malaysian Armed Forces had made arrangements to evacuate Malaysians in Yemen, but the mission was changed to assisting the Arab military coalition against Yemen.

‘’This is opposed to the national foreign policy, which does not interfere in the conflicts of other nations, and Malaysia’s involvement is only through the United Nations,’’ he said yesterday when answering a question from Chang Lih Kang (PH-Tanjung Malim), who wanted to know the duties of Malaysian soldiers based in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) rally this Saturday, Zahid reiterated that it is meant to show gratitude to the government for not ratifying the convention. 

Zahid also said the rally should not be tied to racial issues. 

“I, representing friends in Umno and Pas, will still go (to the rally) and it should be separated from racial issues. 

“The gathering we are having is to show out gratitude and say thanks to the government on its decision to not ratify ICERD.” – December 4, 2018.

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Comments

  • Zahid Mangkuk, were you at the meeting? You are equally guilty of innocence blood in Yemen.

    Posted 7 years ago by Awang Bilis · Reply

  • Would also like to ask this indon kaki pukui gangster Komidi exactly how many Arab ghosts he met!

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Such approvals should be minuted n not verbal. If " one donor, many donors" fellow can produce such evidence, it would be acceptable.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • If Mr. Liew said that he must have gone through cabinet minutes and this matter, if discussed, were not recorded. Your colleague confirmed that in parliament as well. So being an opposition leader, your words are just knee jerk reaction and utterly stupid. No wonder you are driving a sinking ship what with a captain like you....

    Posted 7 years ago by ALAN THAM · Reply

  • Dei Indon !!!!!!, stop your pretentious saintly remark that the rally is an expression of thankds to PH on not ratifying the ICERD. Luat aku. !!! Enough of it .!!! We are actually waiting to see how many and what misbehavior of all the misfits in your rally to be arrested. You can't control the crowd as there will be heros all waiting to burst from your signal and alluding remarks of frenzy amok and you are accountable for it.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply