KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces is undergoing restructuring and improvements in management and administrative governance following concerns over governance and alleged abuse of power.
The armed forces headquarters said its Armed Forces Chiefs Committee is taking issues of governance and abuse of power seriously and emphasised that the reforms are being implemented systematically, factually, and within the law to ensure stability and sound governance within the armed forces.
“The steps are being taken in line with the mandate given by Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, during the Defence Minister’s New Year address on Jan 12. All parties should give the armed forces the space to resolve the issues through established processes, without pressure or speculation that could affect transparency,” the statement said.
It added that all officers and personnel are urged to remain united and disciplined, and to maintain confidence in enforcement processes and the current legal framework.
“Any dissemination of sensitive information should be through legitimate channels in accordance with the law. The armed forces will not compromise on any form of non-compliance with the law, regulations, or core service values, and we are confident that all issues will be handled fairly, transparently, and professionally through the proper mechanisms,” it said.
The armed forces also urged law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to adopt a balanced, principled, and legal approach to ensure justice without undermining the stability of the armed forces, a strategic national security institution entrusted with defending the country’s sovereignty.
“The armed forces respect the public’s right to voice opinions responsibly; however, inaccurate or speculative information could cause confusion and harm the armed forces’ image,” the statement added. It said the armed forces leadership is fully committed to working with authorities to ensure the truth is upheld and public confidence in the institution preserved.
Earlier, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ordered an immediate freeze on all military and police procurement decisions to restore integrity and ensure full compliance with procedures.
The move follows recent corruption allegations involving the armed forces. Anwar said the government must re-examine, restructure, and, for the time being, freeze all military or police procurement decisions, or any others, until it is ensured that the process is fully compliant. He added that the government is closely monitoring the situation and will assess whether there are structural gaps or systemic weaknesses in existing procurement processes.
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