ADUN SPEAKS | I really don’t understand the statement by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that the Malaysian Armed Forces are ready to be deployed in the Middle East, if the situation warrants it.

Yes, Malaysia and many other countries are incensed by the action of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

Such a recognition does not bode well for many Muslim and non-Muslim countries in the world that are keen to resolve the longstanding quest for a separate Palestinian state.

While Muslim countries are particularly enraged by the action of the US, there is no imminence of an all-out war in the region.

The recognition of Jerusalem might beget large-scale protests and even low-key attacks against Israel, but not a major conflict that might predispose the United Nations to dispatch peacekeeping forces.

There is no possibility that such a situation might arise, but if it does it will be doubtful whether Malaysia will be asked to send troops for a peacekeeping mission.

Was it a mere political statement?

Given this, I don’t know why Hishammuddin had to jump the gun by saying that Malaysia was ready to send troops to the Middle East. Was it merely a political statement?

Well, if there was no request from the United Nations, why then was there a need to volunteer the sending of Malaysia’s Armed Forces?

Or was Hishammuddin trying to please the Arab Muslim world with the good intentions and loyalty of Umno leaders towards the Palestinian cause?

A country’s defence minister cannot act on the basis of whims and fancies. He or she cannot commit the armed forces for a distant cause without a proper understanding of the situation.

I would like to know: who authorised Hishammuddin to prepare the army to be deployed in the Middle East?

Was there a special session of Parliament on this matter for the matter to be debated?

Or was the remark made to ingratiate his relative Najib Abdul Razak to the Malay population so as to get their support in the coming general election?

Whatever the reason, it is rather irresponsible on the part of Hishammuddin to have made the remark about the readiness of Malaysia to send troops to the Middle East.

P RAMASAMY is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and Perai state assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.