New York: Malaysia, a veteran in United Nations peacekeeping operations, is ready to support the world body's expanded needs by increasing its participation.

Malaysia will contribute 280 police officers and personnel, to be deployed as two teams of Formed Police units.

It will also contribute 100 officers and personnel as individual officers, as part of the UN Police.

In his statement at the UN Peacekeeping Summit here, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia would contribute one infantry battalion battle group for rapid deployment and one engineering division to assist in peacekeeping missions.

Since 1960, Malaysia has participated in 35 UN peacekeeping operations. Malaysian peacekeepers are operating in six UN missions: Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Liberia, Abyei and Darfur.

 Source: New Straits Times