MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY PREFACE Recent development in our region has pointed to a number of new challenges and uncertainties which impact Malaysia’s national defence. While Malaysia and the region in general are experiencing political stability and economic growth, current issues particularly non-conventional security issues are beginning to shape and influence the nature of threats to national defence and security. Defence development especially the modernisation of the MAF has been undertaken to address any possibility of threats which could adversely affect Malaysia’s sovereignty, independence and integrity. The primary objective of the National Defence Policy is to protect and defend national interests which form the foundations of Malaysia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic prosperity. To achieve this objective a requirement for a comprehensive strategy has been formulated as the underlying principles for national defence. The overriding principle of this strategy is Self Reliance, the prerequisite for which is total commitment from all sectors. Malaysia renounces the use of threat and application of force as a means of settling international conflict and advocates and practice the peaceful resolution of disputes. The National Defence Policy illustrates this through the adoption of a defence strategy based on bilateral and multilateral defence diplomacy achieved through regional and international cooperation. In line with this philosophy Malaysia fully supports the efforts of the United Nations and the international community in preserving universal peace and security. As a member of the international community Malaysia has a moral responsibility and duty to ensure a just social and economic world order. Therefore the MAF has to attain appropriate conventional warfare capabilities. A credible combined structure is important and attention needs to be given to develop the capabilities in all four dimensions of defence namely land, sea, air and electromagnetic. MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY Page 1

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