KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Malaysia has instructed its Armed Forces to remain in Saudi Arabia to continue lending assistance and help rebuilding efforts in Yemen if need be, says Minister with Special Functions Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

In his address at the special meeting between foreign ministers of the states supporting legitimacy in Yemen today, the Defence Minister said Malaysia has also taken a proactive step to engage the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

"At the beginning, our Malaysian troops were based here, in Riyadh, to provide the necessary assistance and facilitate the evacuations of Malaysians in Yemen.

"However, in light of the current situation, I have instructed the Malaysian Armed Forces to remain in the Kingdom, for the sole purpose of providing humanitarian assistance,” the defence minister said in a statement.

Hishammuddin also called on the states that made up the coalition to focus on bringing a permanent end the sufferings of the Yemenis, seeing as how the condition there is quickly becoming "one of the greatest humanitarian crisis”.

He cited millions on the cusp of famine, a cholera outbreak and having no access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene as examples.

Hishammuddin added that political solution is the only way to bring stability to Yemen and stressed that peace talks should remain a top priority.

"We are of the view that the humanitarian situation will only continue to deteriorate in the absence of a peace agreement that leads to a durable solution to the war. As a coalition of like-minded nations, only we have the power and the means to end this crisis,” Hishammuddin said.

"Funding alone will not reverse the fortunes of millions of people in Yemen. Only a cessation of hostilities and a political settlement can bring about a permanent end to the conflict and the suffering of the Yemeni people.”

The Yemeni conflict has killed more than 10,000 people so far and displaced over two million while countless others have also suffered from the resulting famine and pestilence.