Kuala Lumpur:The effectiveness of Budget 2027 allocations for the security and defence sectors should not be measured solely by expenditure, but by the level of operational readiness achieved.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Nur Surayya Mohd Saudi, a Senior Lecturer in Defence Economics at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, emphasized that the RM44 billion allocated for the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry represents a significant fiscal commitment. However, its adequacy should be assessed against modern threats, operational scope, asset condition, and delivered capabilities.
The security threats facing Malaysia extend beyond conventional warfare to include transnational crime, maritime threats, cyberattacks, online fraud, and geopolitical instability. Dr. Nur Surayya, also a Senior Fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, noted that the true measure of the budget's effectiveness is the level of security and preparedness achieved per ringgit spent.
To achieve intended results, she outlined four priority areas asset readiness, strategic modernization, personnel welfare, and local defence technology development. Existing assets require reliable maintenance, while new purchases need careful lifecycle planning to ensure operational readiness.
Dr. Nur Surayya welcomed the RM7.1 billion allocation for asset procurement and cyber capability investments, including AI and response centers, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Modernization should focus on platforms suited to current threats, effective maintenance, and interoperability with existing assets.
Additionally, she expressed approval of the RM2.3 billion allocation for constructing and maintaining civil servants' quarters and raising the minimum pension rate to RM1,350, recognizing these measures as vital for the well-being and morale of security personnel.
She also highlighted the importance of supporting technology transfer, research, and local manufacturing with each ringgit spent on defence procurement to enable Malaysia to develop and maintain its own technologies. Prime Minister Anwar announced the RM22 billion allocations for both the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry while tabling the 2027 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat.