Kuala Lumpur: As part of efforts to accelerate military modernisation, and address emerging security challenges, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is assessing the need for a dedicated cyber force, to counter cyber threats and misinformation campaigns.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the proposed force would be equipped with advanced technical expertise in areas such as Cyber Threat Intelligence, Incident Response, Digital Forensics, and Active Cyber Defence. This capability will empower the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to not only respond to cyber attacks, but also proactively prevent and neutralise threats before they compromise military operations and national security.

Mohamed Khaled made these remarks during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara, responding to Senator Amir Md Ghazali’s inquiry about the government’s plans to increase the defence budget or expedite military modernisation to address unforeseen threats.

He detailed that MINDEF’s Defence White Paper outlines a clear strategy to transform the ATM into a more integrated, agile, and mission-focused force by 2030. This transformation includes addressing unexpected threats such as cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, terrorist incidents, drone warfare, natural disasters, and regional conflicts.

The Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence has also identified key focus areas requiring attention to strengthen the national defence sector, including Cyber Warfare, Unmanned Warfare, Drone Warfare, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Warfare.

For the second phase of the Defence White Paper’s implementation, particularly regarding budget and expenditure, Mohamed Khaled mentioned that the ministry will propose setting national defence spending at 1.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030 to ensure its successful execution. Currently, the country allocates approximately 1.1 per cent of its GDP to defence, and the proposed increase aligns with the approach of neighbouring nations prioritising defence to safeguard national interests amid increasingly complex security challenges.

The government remains committed to protecting national security and sovereignty, especially in light of evolving and complex threats, and is consistently reviewing the need to boost defence spending.