The third flight of the MALBATT 850-12 contingent for the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), comprising 207 members of the MALBATT 850-12 including nine members from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), departed on Thursday on a Batik Air Airbus A330-300. Major General Dato’ Tong Veng Leong Royal Malaysian Air Force, Assistant Chief of Staff J3 of the Joint Forces Headquarters, Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) was present at the ceremonial send-off.
Brunei Darussalam’s Defence Adviser to Malaysia Lieutenant Colonel Rudie Asmawi bin Haji Abidin, senior officers from the MAF and family members of the departing contingent were also in attendance. The ceremony commenced with a general salute from the contingent, followed by the MAF song and a speech by the guest of honour. The chanting of ‘Gempur Wira’ concluded the parade.
The final flight of MALBATT 850-12 is scheduled to depart from Malaysia to Lebanon on November 18.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin