Malaysia To Bolster National Readiness Against Geopolitical Risks - PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will strengthen the country's preparedness against geopolitical uncertainties and global security threats, including safeguarding the country's food, water and energy supplies from potential disruptions.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said international conflicts had shown that security threats now extended beyond conventional warfare to include cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage of critical infrastructure and supply chain disruptions.
He said the government took these developments seriously and had convened a special National Security Council (NSC) meeting yesterday to assess the country's readiness and the effectiveness of existing mechanisms in responding to crises and hybrid threats.
“Following the discussions, the government believes existing national security and crisis management mechanisms must be further strengthened, particularly in inter-agency coordination, information sharing and clearly defined responsibilities.
“This is crucial to ensure a more coordinated response, prevent overlapping responsibilities and avoid delays in decision-making,” he said.
Anwar was delivering a statement in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) on Tuesday on Malaysia’s national security preparedness amid geopolitical conflicts and regional and international security tensions.
The Prime Minister stressed that the government remained vigilant over developments that could affect Malaysia's security and national interests, including the safety of Malaysians abroad.
“Malaysian diplomatic missions are continuously monitoring developments and liaising with local authorities to ensure the safety of our citizens in the countries concerned.
“Malaysians are also advised to stay informed of the latest developments and comply with safety instructions issued by the relevant local authorities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar revealed that Malaysia could become a target of security threats based on intelligence received by the government, although not all the information could be disclosed publicly.
He said Malaysia's growing strength in the digital and data centre sectors, alongside its firm positions on international issues considered controversial by some countries, particularly in Europe and the United States, including Palestine and Gaza, were among the factors that could make the country a potential target.
“Our strength in the digital and data centre sectors is among the greatest. Based on the latest figures, for example, our capabilities could rival those in Europe.
“Secondly, we have taken firm positions on several issues regarded as controversial by certain countries, particularly in Europe and the United States, especially the issues of Palestine and Gaza,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
