MALAYSIA’S UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS
By
Simon S. Sundaraj-Keun
Malaysia has long being a proponent of the United Nations ideals which encompass bringing about peace, fellowship, and development among nations and people across the globe. The Royal Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police has time after time answered the call by the United Nations to send service personnel to far-flung outpost in order to enforce and upheld the UN mandate. Malaysia first taste of experiencing the United Nations operations; was in the Congo (later became Zaire and presently known as Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1960.
It was a trial by fire as troops accustom to a new continent, language, and culture which at times difficult yet the Malaysian along with other nations preformed their duty superbly. As time progress and conflicts erupts across the world due to civil unrest or the incitement of super powers of the Cold War; Malaysia continues to support the UN Peacekeeping Missions. Malaysia non-aligned ideal was maintained even until today as a nation of peace and harmony.
Even as Malaysia lost personnel during Peace Keeping Missions and received no honor in the movie “Black Hawk Down”; it did not stop Malaysia, unlike some nations. Malaysia march on with its credo of the ‘Malaysia Boleh means Malaysia Can’ attitude in promoting the UN ideals and supporting the UN Peacekeeping Mission till this very day.
|
Timeline of Malaysian Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations |
|
|
Country |
Time |
|
Congo Peacekeeping Mission |
1960-1962 |
|
Iran/Iraq Border |
1988-1991 |
|
Namibia |
1989-1990 |
|
Western Sahara |
1991-present |
|
Angola |
1991-1995 |
|
Iraq/Kuwait Border |
1992-2003 |
|
Cambodia |
1992-1993 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1993-1998 |
|
Liberia |
1993-1997 |
|
Somalia |
1993-1994 |
|
Mozambique |
1993-1995 |
|
East Timor, Kosovo, Sierra Leone |
1999-present |
|
Lebanon |
2006-present |
|
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2000-present |
*18 Malaysian Armed Forces personnel have been killed during UN peacekeeping operations.
Author’s Note
Malaysia and all nations who participated and continue to participate in defense of peace and security must be remembered that Peacekeeping is a difficult and complex tasks made by bureaucrats thousands of miles away in the comforts of ones own office. This best one can do is keep those who fight for peace be remembered by us. May we continue to remember o their story and deeds be in our remembrance for fight for ‘Peace and a Better World’.
