KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces must prepare for "strategic uncertainty" and battlefield challenges that have yet to be fully revealed, says Armed Forces chief Jen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman.
Delivering his inaugural address to the troops at Kem Perdana Sungai Besi today (Feb 14), Jen Malek Razak emphasised that the military cannot be built solely for current needs but must be designed for future multi-domain threats.
“Warfare is no longer confined to land, sea, and air. It extends across cyber, electromagnetic, information, and constantly evolving grey-zone spaces,” he said.
He announced that the "Future Force" initiative is currently in its development phase for the 2026–2030 period. This phase will determine the structure, capabilities, and readiness level of the force for the next decade.
“Every decision must be grounded in objective analysis and genuine national defence requirements, not assumptions or preferences,” he said.
To ensure this development is carried out holistically, the Future Development Committee will act as a check-and-balance mechanism.
“Every procurement proposal must be evaluated in terms of suitability, priority, and strategic value. Every ringgit spent must translate into real capability on the battlefield,” Jen Malek Razak added.
The move aligns with the National Defence Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which focuses on transforming the military into a modern, integrated force capable of handling threats ranging from diplomacy to high-technology digital warfare.
