By Sim YH –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, NOV 7 – The first flight of the Malaysian Battalion Contingent (MALBATT) 850-12 for the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) consisting of 220 members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and three members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) departed, recently.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, here, present at the ceremony was the Minister of Defense of Malaysia, His Excellency Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin who completed the UN Beret Wearing Ceremony for members of the MALBATT Contingent 850-12.
Also present was Brunei Darussalam’s Defense Adviser to Malaysia, Lieutenant Colonel Rudie Asmawi bin Haji Abidin, senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces and contingent family members.
The remaining ABDB MALBATT 850-12 contingent will depart on three separately arranged dates.
The second flight carrying four members is scheduled to depart on November 10, while the next flight carrying nine members is scheduled to depart on November 14.
Next, the last flight carrying 14 members is scheduled to depart on November 18.
The MALBATT 850-11 contingent will also make a return flight from Lebanon to Malaysia immediately after the arrival of each MALBATT 850-12 flight in Lebanon.
The Transfer of Power (TOA) process between the two contingents will be held on November 16 at Camp Marakah, Lebanon.
