Mindef launches national defence literacy drive to prepare public for new security threats

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 26 — The Defence Ministry (Mindef) today launched the National Defence Literacy Programme to boost the public’s awareness, knowledge and understanding of national defence, security and sovereignty.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said a shifting security threat landscape demands a deeper understanding of national defence, and a recognition of the role Malaysians can play in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.

“This is where what we call defence literacy comes in. It is an awareness, a body of knowledge and a skill that every citizen must possess,” he told reporters after launching the National Defence Literacy Programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.

Also present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali and Army chief Jen Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman. 

Others in attendance were MiDAS chief executive Laksdya Datuk Yusne Mokhtar, Office of Home Affairs and Research secretary Datuk Awang Shaminan Awang Ashaari, and Sabah National Security Council director Datuk Yahya Sulaiman.

Mohamed Khaled said the public must grasp the fact that security threats today are far more complex. They are no longer confined to physical or military danger, but are alive in the digital space too.

“That is exactly why we are running this Literacy Programme. We want to build the people’s resilience. When the people are resilient, it becomes a deterrent force,” he said.

He said defence literacy efforts must be sustained, so the public not only understands defence and security issues better, but also sees the role they can play in contributing to national defence. Sabah was picked as the first state to roll out the programme, before it is expanded nationwide.

Earlier in his speech, Mohamed Khaled framed national defence through three key components: defence as the nation’s fence or shield, defence as the nation’s umbrella, and defence as the anchor or pillar of a sovereign nation.

He said the defence literacy agenda is about showing the public that there are many ways to strengthen the people’s resilience.

“Ways that don’t require anyone to become a soldier or take up arms,” he said, adding that a range of awareness programmes on defence issues will be rolled out actively.

“We want the public to understand one thing clearly: defence issues no longer start with an enemy at our borders or waters. Threats to sovereignty are everywhere,” he said.

The one-day programme featured two headline segments: Bicara Ancaman Kognitif (Talk on Cognitive Threats) and Bicara Pahlawan Negara (Talk on National Warriors). They zeroed in on how threats now target public thought and perception in today’s security landscape.

The Bicara Pahlawan Negara session brought together Major General (Rtd) Datuk Dr Radzi Abd Hamid as moderator and four special panellists: Lieutenant General (Rtd) Datuk Seri Zain Mohd Said SP, Major General Datuk Mohd Halim Khalid PGB, Warrant Officer 1 (Rtd) Freaddey Yojod and Lance Corporal (Rtd) Abdul Rahman Maidin.

The National Defence Literacy Programme is a Mindef initiative led by the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS) in collaboration with Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia.

At its core, it aims to sharpen public awareness of one simple truth: every layer of society has a role in defending the nation’s security and sovereignty. — Bernama