SUBANG: Some 200 officers and men making up the main group of Malaysia’s Malcon East 5 (ME5) peacekeeping mission returned home yesterday after serving almost nine months in Lebanon under the auspices of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
WELCOME HOME: Jamil, (second left) greeting members of Malcon East 5 at Air Force Base. — Bernama photo
They were welcomed on arrival at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here by Joint Forces commander Vice Admiral Datuk Jamil Osman, who represented Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The contingent’s leader Lt Col Subari Tomo told reporters that among the unforgettable event during their tour of duty was a firefight between soldiers of Lebanon and Israel across the ‘Blue Line’, the border demarcation between the two countries.
The clash left one Israeli soldier dead and another injured while the Lebanese side lost two men.
A Lebanese journalist also died in the crossfire.
Subari said following the incident, all contingents under Unifil were placed under high alert.
A member of the contingent, Maj Charles Wong Cheng Kai, 35, from the Royal Intelligence Corps, said the tour proved to be an invaluable experience for him as he got to mix with military officers from other countries.
The contingent’s advanced group of 100 officers and men returned home on Oct 23.
— Bernama