Defence Minister reminds troops not to share sensitive information on social media

The Star

13 hours ago

TAWAU: Those in the Armed Forces have been reminded to refrain from uploading sensitive information on social media, particularly related to security assets, to prevent hostile parties from identifying the nation's defence capabilities.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said he was confident that armed forces commanders would issue firm instructions to their personnel to use social media responsibly and avoid compromising national security.
"Sometimes in their eagerness to showcase training or equipment, personnel may unintentionally reveal where such assets are stored. This could expose our strengths to those with ill intent," he said after officiating the Tawau 2025 Civil-Military Cooperation Carnival at the Tawau Sports Complex on Sunday (June 29).
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia on Saturday (June 28) had cautioned military personnel against sharing everything on social media, particularly sensitive information related to troop movements and operations.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said the Defence Ministry would continuously acquire strategic assets to strengthen national security.
He said these were not "off-the-shelf" purchases but custom orders tailored to the Armed Forces' operational needs across land, air and sea to ensure suitability and effective deployment.
"We have already procured 18 FA-50 aircraft from South Korea, three littoral mission ships and are continuing construction of the littoral combat ships, alongside radar purchases to bolster national defence," he said.
Mohamed Khaled added that the ministry is also in the process of replacing the static Tun Sharifah Rodziah forward operating base with a more modern and mobile base better suited to current operational demands, expected to be completed next year.
Commenting on ongoing global conflicts, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran-Israel, and India-Pakistan, he said these developments highlight the importance of Malaysia prioritising the acquisition of technology-driven defence assets.
"We are also aware of ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, which remain a serious concern. The government is committed to ensuring balanced defence preparedness between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia," he added. – Bernama