Local Companies Urged To Showcase Homegrown Products At DSA & NATSEC Asia 2026
From Mohd Adli Shahar
ISTANBUL, July 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies have been urged to showcase their own locally developed products at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2026 Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, as part of efforts to strengthen the nation's defence industry.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the exhibition, scheduled to take place in April next year, serves as a key platform to showcase the country's defence and military advancements, as well as to foster collaboration among various industry players.
He added that the products on display could include those developed using local technology or through partnerships with foreign companies.
'I hope next year's DSA will be more meaningful by highlighting the participation of Malaysian companies that are now actively establishing themselves in the defence industry.
'Previously, many local participants were merely representatives of foreign firms. However, we hope that next year's edition will also include companies developing their own homegrown technology,' he told reporters here.
Mohamed Khaled is currently in Türkiye for a three-day official visit to attend the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 and to inspect the construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by defence company Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM).
In a related development, Mohamed Khaled said several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian and foreign companies were signed during his attendance at IDEF 2025.
He said the MoUs covered various areas, including satellite communication solutions, joint development programmes for defence electronic systems, electronic warfare products, and the production of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.
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It is imperative that the Malaysian government review the adequacy of the OSB in achieving its intended purpose of curbing online crime. To enhance its efficacy, the government could consider incorporating more granular provisions that mandate specific actions from service providers and establish clear and enforceable guidelines and penalties. A well-regulated online environment, one that builds trust and security, can attract foreign investment and facilitate DSR-related collaborations, shaping the long-term trajectory of Malaysia's digital economy. Lai Chooi Ling is a lecturer at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own. The SEARCH Scholar Series is a social responsibility programme jointly organised by the South-East Asia Research Centre for Humanities (SEARCH) and TAR UMT.