KUALA LUMPUR: Closer cooperation with Japan, including technology transfers, joint military exercises and government-to-government procurement of defence assets, is being pursued to strengthen the country’s maritime defence capabilities, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said Malaysia had also asked Japan to focus its security assistance on maritime capabilities, particularly maritime domain awareness, amid evolving regional geopolitical challenges.
He said the cooperation is crucial given the strategic importance of the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca to regional security and global trade.
“In safeguarding our defence, security and sovereignty, we need partners whom we can trust and who can help us, including in developing our capabilities,” he told a press conference yesterday following his working visit to Japan.
Mohamed Khaled said Malaysia had signed an agreement with Japan under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme for 2026, involving a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System costing ¥1.65bil (RM40mil).
“Malaysia has benefited from the programme since its introduction in 2023, receiving defence assets worth about RM80mil last year,” he added.
Mohamed Khaled said Malaysia appreciates Japan’s assistance, which aims to help partner countries contribute to peace and stability in their respective regions.
He said he had conveyed Malaysia’s request for more targeted assistance to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, particularly to strengthen the country’s maritime capabilities.
Mohamed Khaled also urged Japan to continue the OSA programme, which has helped countries such as Malaysia play their part in maintaining regional peace and stability.
During his meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, both sides discussed elevating defence cooperation to the ministerial level, including holding annual meetings on a rotational basis.
Mohamed Khaled said the arrangement would facilitate more efficient decision-making and smooth implementation of discussions at the officials’ level.
Although Malaysia and Japan have long-standing ties in various fields, defence and military cooperation remains relatively new, he said, following changes in Japan’s policies that now allow it to export certain defence equipment and participate in military exercises.
“We have agreed to increase the number of military exercises between the two countries.”
Both countries had also agreed to work towards a memorandum of understanding on maritime cooperation to provide a structured framework for collaboration, particularly to strengthen Malaysia’s ability to safeguard its maritime areas.