KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2024 exhibition does not favour or give advantages to any country or company, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said the exhibition was open to all countries and industry players including huge participation from Muslim countries such as Turkiye, Indonesia, UAE, Iran and Pakistan.
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"Besides Muslim countries, the exhibition is also an important arena for defence industry players from South Korea, China, India and Singapore," he said in a statement on Tuesday (May 7).
Mohamed Khaled said the ministry is aware of protests from certain parties over the involvement of several global defence companies.
"Malaysia is a free trade country, which gives space to all global industry players to market their products and services.
"Thus Malaysia takes an approach to not intervene in matters involving global companies from any country," he said.
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It was reported that Bersatu had called on the Malaysian government to prohibit two companies allegedly involved in supplying weapons to the Israeli military.
Bersatu international bureau chief Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah expressed his party's concerns over the involvement of the two companies in the event.
Mohamed Khaled said relations between several global defence companies with a certain country in the course of their businesses will not be interjected by Malaysia.
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"The aim of organising the exhibition is clear, which is to give space and opportunity to all parties to showcase their expertise as well as the latest defence technology.
"It enables the governments of various countries and global industry players to explore the latest technologies and innovations to elevate defence preparedness," he said.
Mohamed Khaled said DSA and NatSec 2024 is also an exhibition organised by a private entity with the costs and expenditure fully covered by the organiser.
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"The Malaysian government did not spend any funds in organising the event," he added.
He said the ministry stressed that the nation's defence procurement policy is implemented by taking into account the latest technological advancements, the country's strategic needs, suitable cost, national interest and Malaysia's global political stand.
"No defence procurement has been conducted without taking into account Malaysia's global stand, especially on the Palestine-Israel conflict as well as national interest.
"The Defence Ministry is always consistent in carrying out the country's policies, which are against any injustice over Palestine," he said.
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