MKN said drills are conducted with close cooperation between the armed forces, state governments, and relevant agencies to ensure they proceed smoothly and safely.

Nonetheless, it said that SOPs are refined periodically, and post-drill evaluations are held to assess the effectiveness of military exercises and ensure that repairs are made to damaged areas.

“MKN convened yesterday and stated its support for the armed forces’ commitment to ensuring that these drills are held professionally and in compliance with guidelines and procedures set by the relevant authorities, including those involving safety and environmental preservation.

“For drill locations, whether gazetted or not, each application goes through an approval process by the authorities, including the state security working committee chaired by the menteri besar or chief minister.

“Applications must also be filed within a certain period before the drills are held, to ensure that aspects like safety, procedural compliance, and local sensitivities are given appropriate attention,” it said in a statement.

This comes two days after the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, ordered the armed forces to obtain the Pahang sultan’s consent before conducting any military training and exercises in the state.

Tengku Hassanal had raised concerns over a planned military training activity near Pahang’s islands, which he said could affect the environmental ecosystem, flora, and fauna.

MKN said defence preparedness is crucial to the country’s security, sovereignty, and strategic interests.

However, the council also acknowledged the need to balance defence operational needs and local sensitivities. It said it would continuously engage stakeholders in coordinating such drills.