Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that the peace and stability Malaysia currently enjoys should not be used as an excuse to neglect efforts to strengthen the nation’s defence capabilities.
He said history has shown that many nations made the grave mistake of disregarding the importance of maintaining military discipline and readiness during times of peace, Bernama reported.
“When a country is at peace and stable, people tend to assume everything is under control. As a result, the focus shifts solely to the economy, education, and infrastructure development, assuming all is well.
“But for us, even as we enjoy peace, we must not neglect the importance of preparation, readiness, discipline, and the enhancement of national defence capabilities,” he was quoted as saying at an event in Jasin, Melaka.
Anwar said the public must be made aware of the RM21.7 billion allocation for the defence ministry under the 2026 budget to ensure transparency and understanding of the government’s investment in national defence.
He also expressed appreciation to defence minister Khaled Nordin for prioritising issues related to discipline, procurement, and the welfare of armed forces personnel, including the provision of housing and schools for their families.
The prime minister said the nation’s strength lies not only in its military capabilities but also in the effectiveness of law enforcement in curbing leakages and economic crimes.
“In two years, our enforcement agencies managed to recover national revenue, including from scams and illicit syndicates, amounting to RM15.5 billion. This is the people’s money,” he said.
Anwar commended enforcement agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and the police for dismantling major syndicates and safeguarding public funds for the benefit of the people.
He also emphasised that the billions of ringgit recovered will be channelled back to the people through allocations for schools, clinics, road infrastructure, and salary adjustments for civil servants.
