He said Malaysia, as a neutral nation, had previously procured its military equipment from many countries so long as the terms and conditions were set based on trust.
“We look to countries that can really transfer their technology to us, countries that are willing to not only make us their customers but look to us as partners, in the sense that they are willing to support our policy,” he said.
“One of our new policies is to be able to be self-reliant to support our local defence industry,” he said here while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference which began yesterday.
Khaled said he is scheduled to meet his Norwegian counterpart tomorrow morning (May 31), during which he will convey Malaysia’s disappointment over the cancellation of export licences for the Norwegian-made naval strike missile system ordered by Malaysia.
“I will tell him of our displeasure and disappointment for a country like Norway to do such a thing,” he noted.
He said Malaysia had benefitted from transfers of technology from friendly countries such as Turkey, South Korea, and some others that want to see Malaysia become a strong nation in this region, which includes Australia.
Khaled said he had held a series of meetings with his counterparts from Singapore, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, New Zealand, and Thailand.
Asked about a call by the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, for allied countries to boost their defence spending instead of relying on the US, Khaled said Malaysia would continue to chart its defence policy according to its own priorities and pace.
“We take note of the US policies and views, it is a fair request. As a nation, we must be able to protect and defend ourselves rather than relying or giving to other countries to defend and help us,” he said.
Protecting underwater infrastructure
Malaysia has joined 16 other countries, including Singapore, to adopt a framework for the security of critical underwater infrastructure. The framework, known as Guide, comprises shared principles that opens up closer cooperation to strengthen the security of underwater infrastructure, said Khaled.
His Singapore counterpart, Chan Chun Sing, said ocean floors now contain links to connect energy and telecommunications grids, and any disruption on one part of the network could disrupt the entire network.
The Guide framework was also endorsed by: Australia, Brunei, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.