Kuala Lumpur: The cooperation between civilians and the armed forces is vital to ensure the security and peace of the country, and that Malaysia is free of any threat, Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said. In his address in conjunction with the 92nd Army Day, he emphasized the importance of mutual trust between the people and the military for effective national defense.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain highlighted that without the trust of the people, the armed forces would not be able to function properly, and without strong and capable armed forces, the security of the country and its people would be threatened. He stated, “If the military and the people are united, there is no enemy capable of threatening the security of our country.”

The General elaborated on the necessity for the Malaysian Army to have the strength and capability to defend the nation. This does not solely rely on the number of personnel, weapons, and expertise but also significantly depends on the people’s support in building a sovereign and prosperous country. He assured that the army would continue to engage in activities and approaches to strengthen ties with the public, supporting the aspiration of a Future Force.

“A future force is an effort to reform our forces to focus on boosting defense capabilities across land, sea, air, and cyber domains,” he explained. The initiative aims to tackle various threats effectively through Concentric Deterrence. As a branch of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Malaysian Army must be prepared to support the land domain and adapt to ‘tailored to mission fit for purpose’ strategies in the future force, he stated.

Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain pointed out that embracing the concept of ‘defense and security is everyone’s responsibility’ would ensure the public remains aware of the army’s relevance in facing modern challenges.