Malaysia Defense Policy

Malaysia's defense policy is a manifestation of its goal for the protection of its national strategic interests and the preservation of national security. The defense policy outlines three basic fundamentals namely national strategic interests, principles of defense and the concept of defense. It emphasizes on the need for the maintenance of a stable and peaceful environment of the immediate areas of its strategic interests.

Malaysia's strategic interests are viewed from three-tiers encompassing the areas of immediate vicinity, regional and global. The areas of its immediate vicinity comprise the land territories, territorial waters, airspace, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Straits of Malacca and its approaches, and the Straits of Singapore as well as the sea and air lines of communication connecting Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

The regional areas of interest to Malaysia cover Southeast Asia, including Andaman Islands as well as the South China Sea. Malaysia views any development affecting the region as invariably impinging her security and development. This is particularly significant as Malaysia shares either common land or sea boundaries or both with most of the ASEAN states. Any infringement to the region's security, whether in the form of intra-regional or extra-regional conflicts, will have consequential effects on Malaysia's security.

Malaysia's growing trade links, new markets for its products, increasing foreign investment and the acquisition of private enterprises with worldwide interests have broadened its interests beyond the immediate vicinity and the region. In view of this, it is in Malaysia's interest to ensure that global peace is maintained. Taking cognizance of its strategic and competing interests, Malaysia's defense revolves around the fundamental principles of Self-Reliance, Regional Cooperation and External Assistance.

Being an independent and sovereign state, Malaysia has realized that the preservation of its national interest and security is best attained through the pursuit of self-reliance which is the core of its defense policy. This principle emphasizes Armed Forces self-reliance within the structure of national self-reliance. It involves not only the combat forces but also logistical support network of military-industrial cooperation in line with the country's development priorities. Self-reliance in this regard should not be limited to the efforts of the Armed Forces but should also involve all relevant agencies of the government and the people. However, taking into account its limitations, Malaysia's self-reliance capability can be drawn from two premises. These are, firstly, having the capability to act independently without the need for foreign assistance in matters concerning internal security and secondly, having the capability to act independently in protecting its territorial integrity and security interests within the immediate vicinity from low and medium level external threats.

Due to its geographical location in Southeast Asia, Malaysia's strategic interests and concerns inevitably coincide with those of the other countries in the region. Given the above situation Malaysia's security becomes quite indivisible from that of its fellow ASEAN countries. Hence, a threat to ASEAN or any of the ASEAN countries would also be viewed as a threat to of Malaysia. Accordingly, Malaysia attaches great significance to regional cooperation.