KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is urging ASEAN to take bold steps to advance interoperability, expand joint exercises, and strengthen operational frameworks for maritime patrols, counterterrorism, cyber defence and disaster relief.
Malaysian Chief of Defence Force, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, said cooperation in these areas would directly benefit the people of ASEAN.
He urged member states not only to reaffirm past agreements but also to explore new avenues of collaboration.
“Some issues will be complex, even sensitive, yet avoiding them will not make them disappear. By addressing them openly and respectfully, we strengthen the trust that allows us to face the future with confidence,” he said in his opening speech at the 22nd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM) here today.
He noted that ACDFM has matured into a trusted platform for building understanding and strengthening cooperation among the armed forces.
He said the region faced growing demands on its armed forces, requiring steady judgment, strategic foresight, and decisive action.
“That foundation is solid, but the time has come to place more weight on the bridge we have built,” he said.
Nizam said this year’s ACDFM would mark a step forward in solidarity, progress and the collective security of the region.
“Defence leaders should be remembered not only for reacting to crises but for anticipating them, not merely for guarding borders but also for building bridges, and not for the pursuit of power but for the pursuit of purpose.
“I have seen the professionalism and dedication that defined our ASEAN military community. I have also seen how fragile peace can be, how quickly stability can be tested, and how costly complacency becomes,” he said. – BERNAMA
