RIMBA, Tuesday 12 July 2011 – Ten Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) personnel will be deployed to Lebanon to participate in the peacekeeping mission with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
A send-off ceremony took place yesterday at the Royal Brunei Air Force Base in Rimba. Present as guest of honour who handed over the Brunei Darussalam national flag to the contingent leader was Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Brigadier General Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Deputy Commander of the RBAF.
The ten RBAF personnel are the seventh contingent sent by Brunei Darussalam on the UNIFIL mission in order to maintain peace and stability in Lebanon in line with the United Nations’ mandate.
“The team will be on a one-year tour and as the leader it is my responsibility to ensure my team and I are prepared mentally and physically,” said by Major Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abd Latif.
“Before leaving for Lebanon, we underwent one-month training in Kuantan, Pahang to enhance our knowledge and skills, especially for the UNIFIL mission,” he continued.
As for Captain Pengiran Hamzah bin Pengiran Ahmad Damit, “Being away from my family is part of the sacrifice that we have to face. I regard this not only as an opportunity but also as part of our duty to fulfill our responsibilities in the RBAF and make our country, Brunei, proud”.
The seventh contingent is made up of Major Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abd Latif, Captain Pengiran Hamzah bin Pengiran Ahmad Damit, First Warrant Officer Razali bin Haji Matusin, Staff Sergeant Pengiran Salamat bin Pengiran Zulkiflee, Sergeant Hamdani bin Mohd Ali, Sergeant Sharani bin Haji Shandan, Corporal Eirwan bin Lasim, Corporal Awang Haji Zul Amin bin Awang Basar @ Besar. Corporal Daniel bin Kuchil and Lance Corporal Hapolowadi bin Bidin.
The contingent will join troops from Malaysia under the command of Malaysian Company 7 (MALCOY 7). Brunei Darussalam has participated in the peacekeeping mission of UNIFIL since 2008.
