AHMAD ZAHID ACCOMPANIES MALCON WEST 2 PEACE-KEEPING MISSION TO LEBANON

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
today accompanied the Malcon West 2 battalion that headed to Lebanon for a
peace-keeping mission under the United Nations Interim Forces (Unifil).

He said Malaysia had accepted a request from the United Nations
Department Of Peacekeeping Operation (UNDPKO) to add another 150 Malcon West 2
soldiers, that comprised five officers and 145 soldiers from the Malaysian Armed
Forces.

"There is a shortage of international forces serving in Lebanon. As a
result, Unifil are not able to carry out peace-keeping monitoring activities
successfully.

"With the cabinet's approval on May 13, we are able to send another 150
members of the Armed Forces to overcome the shortage," he told reporters at the
Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang, near here today.

Malcon West 2 which will be stationed in the west of the Lebanon-Israel
border at At Tiri will replace Malcon West 1 that completes its service on July
29.

Malcom West has 230 officers serving in Lebanon.

"I was informed that our troops in Lebanon had performed their duties well
and are safe there. I am confident the Malcon West 2 battalion which had
undergone three months of intensive preparations will be able to continue the
excellent performance of the others," said Ahmad Zahid who is expected to be in
Lebanon until July 22.

The presence of Malaysian forces and their service in various programmes has
helped rebuild the confidence of the people in Lebanon while the experience and
exposure gained by our forces while serving under Unifil which comprises
soldiers from other countries in the world, would be priceless, he said.
-- BERNAMA