No reliance on any single power bloc for defence needs, says Khaled

 The defence minister says this approach is in line with Malaysia’s neutral and non-aligned foreign policy.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said several key principles guide procurement decisions, including diversifying sources to ensure the armed forces do not depend on a single country or supplier. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Malaysia’s defence procurement strategy is not dependent on any single power bloc or supplier, with the government adopting a diversification approach to safeguard national security interests amid an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment.

In a written parliamentary reply, defence minister Khaled Nordin said this approach was in line with Malaysia’s neutral and non-aligned foreign policy.

He said several key principles guide defence procurement decisions, including diversifying sources to ensure the armed forces do not depend on a single country or supplier.

Khaled said the government also prioritises government-to-government (G2G) procurement arrangements to strengthen supply chain guarantees, improve accountability, and reduce risks of disruptions or unilateral contract cancellations.

Another key consideration is preserving the armed force’s operational independence by ensuring acquired assets are not subject to conditions or restrictions that could affect the military’s ability to defend the country.

“The ministry has strengthened the risk assessment process for every major procurement by considering factors such as geopolitical stability, export restrictions, continuity of logistical support and supply chains throughout the asset’s lifecycle,” he said.

“This approach allows procurement decisions to be made in a more prudent and resilient manner.”

Khaled said that in the long term, the government will continue to strengthen the National Defence Industry Policy through technology transfers, development of the domestic defence industry, and improvements in local maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities.

These measures will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while strengthening Malaysia’s defence self-reliance.

He was responding to a question by former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera), who asked about measures to diversify defence procurement sources and reduce reliance on any particular power bloc.

Last week, the defence ministry was ordered to immediately halt all new procurement of defence equipment from Norway after the Cabinet discussed Oslo’s move to revoke the export licence for the naval strike missile (NSM) system and its launcher systems.

In May, the Norwegian government revoked the export licence for the NSM system ordered by Malaysia under a 2018 contract, saying its defence technology exports would be limited to its “allies and closest partners”, including Nato members.

The cancellation left the navy’s littoral combat ship programme without a key surface-to-surface missile system, despite the NSM contract having been signed in April 2018. - FMT