Mindef seeks allocation to face cyber threats

He said the ministry endeavoured to obtain more funds and found that MPs, including from the opposition, wanted the ministry to boost the acquisition of assets specifically in facing the threat of cyber attacks.

‘’Yes, they (government and opposition MPs) are of the same view that it is necessary for my ministry to boost assets because our country is facing a new threat, namely cyber attack.

‘’This includes the use of drones, radar and others, not that we don’t have them but they have to be increased,’’ he told a media conference after attending the monthly gathering of Mindef at Auditorium Wisma Pertahanan in Kuala Lumpur.

Yesterday, Mohamad tabled the KPP in Dewan Rakyat, which stipulated the national defence strategic direction for the period 2021 to 2030 to protect the interests of Malaysia and to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The KPP, which involved eight main messages, was tabled to renew the National Defence Policy so that the strategy and capability were in tandem and relevant with the global security situation.

Also present at the gathering was his deputy, Liew Chin Tong.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) must be prepared to look after the Sabah and Sarawak areas including the jungles and territorial waters of the nation so that all forms of crimes could be reduced.

‘’I hope ATM can reduce crimes at the borders,’’ he said.

In another development, asked on the preparation to face the monsoon season on the east coast, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said RMAF was in a state of readiness to extend aid to the flood victims especially in Terengganu and Kelantan.

He said the number of personnel and military assets mobilised currently were adequate following the situation but it depended on requests and the situation.

‘’We will send more personnel to help if the flood situation becomes worse."

Affendi said RMAF had co-operated with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) in performing mercy flights for flood victims including sending basic food items.

Yesterday, Bernama reported Nadma would send 2,000 more tents to meet the need of the victims who were increasing in number.

In the meantime, 10,000 units of tents had been distributed to relief centres in three states - Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu.

-Bernama