Why was Cabinet approval bypassed for troop deployment to Yemen?

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Questions Remain Over Bypass of Cabinet Approval for Troop Deployment to Yemen

Senator Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah has called for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to clarify why explicit Cabinet approval was not obtained before Malaysian military personnel were deployed to Yemen. This call follows a statement by Deputy Defence Minister Senator Liew Chin Tong in Parliament, indicating that the previous Cabinet did not expressly authorise the deployment of Armed Forces personnel to join the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The troops were involved in 12 missions transporting equipment, bullets, and explosives for the Arab Alliance within Saudi Arabian airspace, but were not direct combatants.
Lack of Explicit Cabinet Authorisation

Deputy Defence Minister Senator Liew Chin Tong informed Parliament that the preceding Cabinet did not provide express authorisation for the deployment of Malaysian Armed Forces personnel to participate in operations with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. This suggests a procedural gap in the decision-making process for deploying military assets in support of foreign coalitions. The missions undertaken by the Malaysian troops were specifically for the transportation of essential supplies like equipment, bullets, and explosives to the Arab Alliance.
Nature of Military Involvement in Yemen

The deployed Malaysian military personnel conducted their operations exclusively within Saudi Arabian airspace. Their role was confined to flying 12 missions that facilitated the movement of materials for the Arab Alliance, which was engaged in the Yemeni conflict. Crucially, these troops were not involved as direct combatants in the hostilities.
Calls for Accountability and Transparency

Senator Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah has publicly questioned the absence of Cabinet awareness regarding "Ops Yemen II," suggesting it is improbable that then-Prime Minister Najib Razak and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein were unaware of such an operation. He further queried the reasons behind allegedly withholding this information from both Parliament and the Cabinet. The National Patriots Association has also accused Hishammuddin of acting unlawfully in this matter. Following the general election, the subsequent Pakatan Harapan government initiated the withdrawal of these troops.

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Why was Cabinet approval bypassed for troop deployment to Yemen?

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