The Town In Lebanon Where Malay Words Greet You, Thanks To Malbatt's Good Work

By Mohd Azim Fitri Aziz TIBNIN (Lebanon), Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Walking past the rows of shops in the bazaars in Tibnin and Kawkaba in Lebanon, do not be surprised if rather familiar words ring in your ears – murah-murah (cheap), terima kasih (thank you), jemput masuk (come in). Traders hurl these Malay terms and their conversation is often punctuated by Malay words, thanks to the Tibnin town in Lebanon being the base of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) since 2006. On a visit to Malbatt and Malaysia Company (Malcoy) camps at several locations in the western part of Lebanon, this writer was obviously elated to hear many Lebanese tongues rolling off Malay words. While the visit was from July 23 to 31, the Malay words greet one as soon as one arrives at the Tibnin town. With Malbatt and Malcoy having been stationed in this war-torn nation for the last seven years, it was not surprising to see the locals being familiar with the language and customs of Malaysians. In 2006, Israel attacked Lebanon after its soldiers were killed by the Shi'ite Hezbollah, and not less than 1,000 Lebanese were killed in the hostilities that followed. The United Nations (UN) intervened with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), and the peacekeeping team among others was represented by Malbatt. Initially, the locals were uneasy about the presence of foreign forces on their land, yet the Malbatt's and Malcoy's contribution through numerous humanitarian programmes helped overcome that initial apprehension. THE ATM TEAM THE BEST EXAMPLE Mohamad Abdullah Aiman, a local resident who could speak a few words in Malay, initially considered the presence of the UN's team in Lebanon as a new form of colonisation. Nevertheless, initial skepticism soon turned into a warm welcome, especially after he saw the earnest efforts made by Malbatt and Malcoy personnel to help the locals. The 41-year-old trader was impressed with the willingness of the members and officers of the Malcoy and the Malbatt in helping out the locals (above), especially in providing medication and education. "As a trader here, I am happy with their attitude. They are a fine example among the Unifil personnel and this is why the locals also are happy with them," noted Abdullah, who resides close to the Malbatt's camp in Barashit. Currently, the fifth Malbatt team (Malbatt 5) that took over the role from Malbatt 4 in October 2012, is overseeing the peace keeping operations. Malbatt 5 operates at Lebanon's Western Sector at Harris, Shamrock, and Barashit camps with Tibnin serving as the headquarters for Malbatt 5. The Malcoy team is to be disbanded with its officers and members absorbed into Malbatt and will be operating as a single entity with effect from October 2013. THE JIWA MURNI (PURE HEART) PROGRAMME The Malbatt team comprising 540 personnel, and the Malcoy team 310 personnel, are doing their level best to help the locals through the jiwa murni (pure heart) programme that they pioneered. According to Malbatt 5 Commander Col Zainal Abidin Mohd Said, the programme was to extend assistance to the local populace to return to its normal life after the war. "Though we have to work with very little capital, we are utilising our expertise and making the best of efforts to help the Lebanese people through the programmes lined up for them," he said, adding that the programme has been well received by the Lebanese society. The programme includes establishing a first stage hospital, providing education and technical assistance and deploying engineering expertise in minor rebuilding works. He pointed out that these programmes not only helped in overcoming suspicions but also helped establish a rapport between the Malaysian team and the locals. LEBANESE COMFORTABLE WITH BAHASA MALAYSIA (MALAY LANGUAGE) This writer personally experiences the warm and wonderful hospitality extended by the locals when taken to the Tibnin town to see at first hand thesituation there and to meet the locals. As soon as they got to know of the writer's origins, the Lebanese among the crowd tried whatever Malay words they could muster or had learnt. It is surprising how sometimes a few disjointed words could build bridges of warmth between people of different nationalities. The locals appeared very comfortable while greeting the visitors in Malay instead of English. Col Zainal said the scenario illustrated the close bond between the Malaysian armed forces' members and the locals in Tibnin, fostered over the last seven years. The people there are comfortable in communicating in the Malay language not only with the personnel stationed there but also with any visitors from Malaysia. According to a Malbatt 5 personnel, Corporal Mohamad Shafiq Affendi and Mohd Abdul Rahman, each time the team members went to Tibinin to source supplies, they taught the traders there a few Malay words. As time went by, the locals became accustomed to the language and culture of Malaysians in Tibnin and Kawkaba, said the father of two. As for the locals, the presence of the Malbatt team on their land over the last seven years has been very meaningful. Therefore, it is not surprising that the people around Tibnin want Malbatt to continue there. It not only means assured peace; it also means strong bonds. Yes, you can say that in Malay, too. (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA