BTH: Malaysia's defence future — reform or repeat? [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: This week’s episode zeroes in on Malaysia’s defence procurement issues that has reignited debates over integrity, governance, and national security.

His Majesty King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim’s strong rebuke of the “arms salesmen culture,” where retired generals profit as middlemen in billion-ringgit arms deals.

The issue has intensified following the arrest of five senior officers, including two from military intelligence.

Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar has described the scandal as a painful but valuable lesson.

Yet, it also lays bare deeper structural problems: procurement leakages flagged by the Auditor General, legacy missteps such as the Skyhawk jets, and the persistent challenge of balancing modernisation with accountability.

The episode explores three key themes:

1. Procurement Integrity & Oversight – How far has the Defence White Paper’s vision for transparency and accountability been realised, and where are the biggest gaps?

2. Legacy Assets, Veterans’ Roles & Lessons from History – What recurring patterns have plagued Malaysia’s procurement, and how do we institutionalise lessons to avoid repeating costly mistakes?

3. Security & Future Modernisation – How can veterans’ expertise be channelled without conflict of interest, how do we reinforce safeguards for state secrets, and how do open tenders and government-to-government arrangements reshape Malaysia’s defence posture?

Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) ceo Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob and NST reporter Fuad Nizam joined us to connect the dots between governance, economics, and national security.

More in the latest episode of Beyond the Headlines. Watch on NST Online’s YouTube channel.

*This episode was recorded on Aug 21

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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