Malaysia’s defence policy is a manifestation of its goal for the protection of its national strategic interests and the preservation of national security. The defence policy outlines three basic fundamentals namely national strategic interests, principles of defence and the concept of defence. It emphasises on the need for the maintenance of a stable and peaceful environment of the immediate areas of its strategic interests.
Malaysia’s strategic interests are viewed from three-tiers encompassing the areas of immediate vicinity, regional and global. The areas of its immediate vicinity comprise the land territories, territorial waters, airspace, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Straits of Malacca and its approaches, and the Straits of Singapore as well as the sea and air lines of communication connecting Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.
The regional areas of interest to Malaysia cover Southeast Asia, including Andaman Islands as well as the South China Sea. Malaysia views any development affecting the region as invariably impinging her security and development. This is particularly significant as Malaysia shares either common land or sea boundaries or both with most of the ASEAN states. Any infringement to the region’s security, whether in the form of intra-regional or extra-regional conflicts, will have consequential effects on Malaysia’s security.
Malaysia’s growing trade links, new markets for its products, increasing foreign investment and the acquisition of private enterprises with worldwide interests have broadened its interests beyond the immediate vicinity and the region. In view of this, it is in Malaysia’s interest to ensure that global peace is maintained.
Taking cognizance of its strategic and competing interests, Malaysia’s defence revolves around the fundamental principles of Self-Reliance, Regional Cooperation and External Assistance.
Being an independent and sovereign state, Malaysia has realised that the preservation of its national interest and security is best attained through the pursuit of self-reliance which is the core of its defence policy. This principle emphasises Armed Forces self-reliance within the structure of national self-reliance. It involves not only the combat forces but also logistical support network of military-industrial cooperation in line with the country’s development priorities. Self-reliance in this regard should not be limited to the efforts of the Armed Forces but should also involve all relevant agencies of the government and the people. However, taking into account its limitations, Malaysia’s self-reliance capability can be drawn from two premises. These are, firstly, having the capability to act independently without the need for foreign assistance in matters concerning internal security and secondly, having the capability to act independently in protecting its territorial integrity and security interests within the immediate vicinity from low and medium level external threats.
Due to its geographical location in Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s strategic interests and concerns inevitably coincide with those of the other countries in the region. Given the above situation Malaysia’s security becomes quite indivisible from that of its fellow ASEAN countries. Hence, a threat to ASEAN or any of the ASEAN countries would also be viewed as a threat to of Malaysia. Accordingly, Malaysia attaches great significance to regional cooperation.
Within the context of regional cooperation Malaysia also encourages the establishment of bilateral defence cooperation within ASEAN. A strong bilateral defence network amongst ASEAN countries will assist in the process of confidence building and promoting transparency. Concomitant with this approach Malaysia will promote and contribute towards the development of a strong and effective ASEAN community in order to ensure a secure Southeast Asia.
Malaysia views the formation of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as another significant development towards the continued peace and stability of the region. This initiative by ASEAN has successfully brought together participants to share views on mutual security concerns. The dialogue process has proven to be an important mechanism towards confidence building. The ARF activities will foster cooperation and better understanding among its participants.
To complement regional cooperation, Malaysia also acknowledges the need for external assistance from countries outside the region. The assistance includes moral and physical support, training facilities, transfer of technology and supply of equipment. In pursuing this effort, it has undertaken steps to establish and reinforce relations with countries outside the region. Hence, despite the commitment to ZOPFAN, the reality of the situation should not allow Malaysia to preclude the need to request for assistance from sources outside the region. This is especially so when the level of threat is of a proportion that goes beyond the capability of the local force.
Malaysia regards the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), which comprises of Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, as an avenue for external assistance. The FPDA is the only formal defence arrangement which Malaysia has with extra-regional powers. At the time of its inception, Malaysia realised that self-reliance could only be achieved over a period of time. The FPDA thus became the mechanism through which it could develop its defence capabilities with the assistance of traditional allies. The loose consultative mechanism of the FPDA gave Malaysia some measure of external support and assurance of security. In this regard, Malaysia firmly remains committed to the continued relevance of the FPDA. Nevertheless, in view of the present strategic scenario and the enhanced capabilities of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), the role of the FPDA has been streamlined to meet the current needs.
Malaysia’s firm commitment to the United Nation’s Charter has made it to adopt a defensive defence posture. Accordingly, its defence policy calls for the strategy that is based on deterrence and total defence. The policy also stipulates the need to prevent conflict from occurring within its own territory either through preventing it from happening or by engaging the adversary as far away as possible from the Malaysian territory.
The concept of deterrence is aimed at discouraging potential adversary from pursuing policies that are against any peaceful means of resolving conflicts. It calls for the application of the denial strategy and the development of a credible armed forces with an effective war fighting capability to deter any act of hostility or aggression by the adversaries.
On the other hand, the concept of total defence refers to the total and integrated efforts taken by the government, non-¬governmental agencies, private sectors and the citizens to defend the nation. Safeguarding Malaysia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity necessitates the commitment of all citizens and not just the Armed Forces. While the defence of the country is the physical responsibility of the security forces, the burden of ensuring that such forces are able to meet the challenges confronting them is a national responsibility.
Even though it recognises the importance of regional cooperation and external assistance, Malaysia believes that self-reliance should continue to be the cornerstone of its defence. In this regard Malaysia will strive towards enhancing and developing its Armed Forces capabilities as well as promoting defence consciousness and patriotism among its citizens.
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