IT is foolish to deploy Malaysian troops to Jerusalem without United Nations sanction or a clear plan, said a group of retired military and police officers.

Describing Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s statement that Malaysian troops were ready to get involved in Jerusalem as “unwise”, National Patriots Association president Brig-Gen (rtd) Mohd Arshad Raji said diplomacy was still the best way resolve the dispute over the status of Jerusalem, after United States President Donald Trump last Wednesday recognised the holy city as the capital of Israel.

Arshad said Trump’s decision was a unilateral move that was not sanctioned by the UN.

He said Malaysia had deployed its troops overseas in the past, but had done so under a mandate from the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Arshad raised several questions if Malaysian troops were to be deployed to the Middle East.

“Under whose command will our troops be placed?

“What would be the force level needed for such a mission and how will the force be structured?

“Which authority makes the final decision to deploy troops in a mission that is not sanctioned by the UNSC?”

Arshad also cautioned that deploying troops to a conflict zone like in Jerusalem was unlike a UNSC peacekeeping mission, and casualties should be expected.

“Are the approving authorities willing to accept full responsibility for placing our troops in harm’s way?”

He asked if the question of sending troops to the Middle East would be debated in Parliament, and if the military top brass was confident that Malaysian troops were trained to handle conflict in an unfamiliar area.

“Blindly making a declaration to commit our troops is unwise.”

Hisahmmuddin said at the Umno general assembly on Saturday that Malaysia’s armed forces were ready to play a role in the dispute over Jerusalem.

He said the country should be prepared to face any eventuality over the issue. – December 11, 2017.