COMMENT | In a statement over the weekend, mainly as a reaction to the outcry from the rural heartland and urban electorates in the Malay cities, Umno knows that its close relationship with US President Donald Trump has put its electoral pact with PAS in a deep creek.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (photo), who is concurrently the special functions minister in charge of the issue of Islamic State in the Prime Minister's Department, affirmed that "if need be, Malaysia will send its troops to Jerusalem."

This has drawn a sharp rebuke from the National Patriots Association (NPA) - a veterans association in Malaysia, who argued that under whose authority would such missions be dispatched.

Traditionally, the Malaysian armed forces, including that which was dispatched to Congo in the mid-1960s, had gone through the purview and authority of the UN Peacekeepers. The tradition has been maintained to this day, when qualified Malaysian peacekeepers are needed, in conflict areas like Lebanon or Somalia.

In the movie "Black Hawk Down", not many people were aware of the fact that it was the Malaysian soldiers who saved the American rangers that were under siege by the Somali militias. Had it not been for the Malaysian armed forces, the US marines and rangers would have suffered huge casualties ranging in the hundreds, if not thousands.

Unfortunately, the Malaysian Ministry of Defence did not file significant protests against the mischaracterisation of the book, nor the movie, thus, denying our Malaysian patriots the due recognition that they richly deserve.

It is odd that the defence minister, without first speaking to the prime minister, or for that matter, the King, or the National Security Council, had immediately broached the idea of sending the troops abroad to Jerusalem if need be. That itself is reckless.

Israel does not have a diplomatic relationship with Malaysia. It is walled up to prevent Palestinians, even Israeli Arabs, from entering Palestine at will. At which point of the West or Old City of Jerusalem, would Malaysia enter to safeguard the sanctity of Jerusalem? Or is it just another rhetorical battle cry playing to the gallery, irresponsibly?

In 1988, even the Old City of Jerusalem was ceded by the late King Hussein of Jordan to the Palestinians. Since then the "final status" of Jerusalem has always been a point of contention between Israel and Palestine, which is why it boggles the mind why Najib’s close golf buddy, President Trump actually saw it fit to offer the city in its entirety to Israel? It may be his election promise, but how can one give something that does not belong to him?...