M'SIAN FORCES TO PLAY PROMINENT ROLE IN LEBANON AFTER BATTALION STATUS

TYRE (LEBANON), July 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Contingent (MALCON) in
Lebanon for a peace-keeping mission under the United Nations Interim Forces
(Unifil) is expected to play a more prominent role after being accorded
Battalion status (MALBATT).

With the endorsement, the Malaysian Contingent (MALCON) would now be known
as Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) with Col. Hashim Aman Shah becoming the first
commander of MALBATT in Lebanon.

According to Unifil West Sector deputy commander Col. Philip Chorrone who
formalised the new status for the Malaysian contingent at 2-45 army camp in
At-Tiri said the Malaysian forces play an important role in the peace-keeping
mission at the Israel border because the locals were not intimidated by their
presence.

"The Malaysian forces not only contribute towards Unifil but also to the
whole world by displaying a high level of professionalism and good performance
in maintaining peace," he said.

Meanwhile, Hashim said with the promotion in status, MALCON which was
monitoring an area of 40 square kilometres would now be given a bigger area to
monitor, encompassing about 93 square kilometres.


"MALBATT will also takeover patrolling duties carried out by the Ghana and
Italian battalions. But though the presence of the Malaysian armed forces is
well accepted by the locals, I have advised the soldiers to be always on the
alert and be vigilant since anything can happen any time," he told Bernama here.

Malaysia became a part of the UNIFIL peace-keeping mission after the United
Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 intended to resolve the
Israel-Lebanon conflict after Israeli forces attacked Hezbollah militants in
2006.

MALBATT with a strong 750-member contingent is among forces from 30
countries involved in the mission.

-- BERNAMA