Latest news with #MohamadHarithMohamadNizar
Barnama
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
M'sia Receives Top Award For Female Peacekeepers' Participation In UN Missions
GENERAL From Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar BERLIN (Germany), May 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been honoured with the UN award that recognises the participation of female peacekeepers in its peacekeeping missions at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in Berlin, Germany. The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Headquarters, in a statement, said the award recognises the operational deployment and involvement of female peacekeepers from the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which met the targets set by the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS). It said that Malaysia is among the countries that advocate the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, adding that 10.5 per cent of the total peacekeeping mission personnel for MALBATT UNIFIL consist of women. "Besides UNIFIL, the MAF has also deployed female peacekeepers as military observers and staff for MONUSCO (UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), and UNISFA (UN Interim Security Force for Abyei)," read the statement. The MAF said the award recognises Malaysia's contribution to upholding international peace and security on the global stage. Other recipients are Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, and Tanzania. The MAF Headquarters Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Datuk Azhan Md Othman, and the Military Adviser to the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the UN, Colonel Shamsuri Noordin, attended the award ceremony. Yesterday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin reaffirmed the country's continued commitment to supporting the WPS agenda in line with the UGPS.
Barnama
14-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia, Italy To Forge Strategic Defence Partnership
From Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar BERLIN, May 14 (Bernama) – Malaysia and Italy have agreed to initiate a strategic partnership in the field of defence, including a proposed government-to-government (G2G) memorandum of understanding (MoU) on asset procurement. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said his bilateral meeting with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto yesterday, held on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 here, marked the first engagement of its kind. He said the meeting was initiated at Italy's request, signalling its interest in deepening defence ties with Malaysia. 'Malaysia welcomes Italy's intention and sees it as an opportunity to enhance defence relations not only through asset procurement, but also through strategic cooperation, including technology transfer that truly benefits the development of our local defence industry,' he said when met here. According to Mohamed Khaled, Malaysia has previously procured military assets from Italy and now seeks to build on that relationship to pave the way for more meaningful collaboration, particularly in terms of local capability development. 'We want every procurement to come with effective technology transfer, not just symbolic gestures. This is crucial to ensure that we are not merely end users, but are also capable of developing our own defence industry,' he said. Mohamed Khaled added that Italy also expressed interest in G2G acquisitions, which are proven to be more transparent, cost-effective, and offer stronger guarantees for the recipient country. He explained that G2G arrangements enable the country to avoid third-party interference, while the supplying government can provide direct assurance in cases of delays or failure to deliver assets.
Barnama
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia, Germany Continue To Strengthen Defence Cooperation
By Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar BERLIN (Germany), May 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Germany are committed to continuing to strengthen bilateral defence ties through various strategic initiatives, including cooperation agreements, military training, and capacity building in the field of security and defence technology. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the matter was among those discussed during his meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 Forum held here. 'Germany and Malaysia enjoy good relations in the field of defence, and we deeply value the cooperation that has been fostered over the years. Whenever the opportunity arises, we make it a point to meet and exchange views on the current geopolitical and security landscape,' he said when met here yesterday. 'Germany and Malaysia have good relations in the field of defence, and we greatly appreciate the level of cooperation that has been established over the years. Whenever there is an opportunity, we will meet to exchange views on the current geopolitical and security situation,' he said when met here yesterday. He also welcomed ASEAN's decision to accept Germany as an observer country in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), while hoping that the country would play a meaningful role in the regional security platform. 'Malaysia is grateful for Germany's willingness to join the ADMM as an observer and is confident that this participation will contribute to the peace and stability of the Southeast Asian region,' he said. At the meeting, Mohamed Khaled said Germany also expressed its intention to sign a Letter of Intent with Malaysia to facilitate and expedite all forms of defence cooperation between the two countries. According to him, both parties are currently discussing and finalising the document.
Barnama
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia Calls For Urgent Reforms Of UN Peacekeeping Operations
From Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar BERLIN (Germany), May 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called for bold and forward-looking reforms in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping operations to ensure greater effectiveness and safety of personnel in the face of increasingly complex global challenges. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that peacekeepers today face emerging challenges, adding that the dynamic geopolitical landscape underscores the importance of continued evolution in UN Peacekeeping. He said that in that context, Malaysia believes two key shifts are essential to advancing meaningful reform. 'Firstly, equipping our peacekeepers with technologically advanced equipment and weaponry is paramount. The strategic integration of cutting-edge technology into peacekeeping operations serves as a powerful deterrent against hostile entities. 'This integration will significantly enhance our forces' capability to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats in peacekeeping missions. A technologically empowered peacekeeping force not only projects strength and moral authority but also reinforces the collective resolve to uphold peace and security,' he said. Mohamed Khaled said this during his intervention for High-Level Session II - Peacekeeping Reform: More Effective and Safer Peacekeeping during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 forum, held here today. He added that the UN must emphasise capacity-building more because, as a longstanding troop-contributing country, Malaysia strongly believes in the critical importance of training, particularly in areas that enhance interoperability, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and improve peacekeepers' overall safety and effectiveness. 'As missions grow more complex, it is imperative that we invest in training programmes that not only develop core operational competencies but also prepare personnel to integrate and utilise advanced technologies effectively.
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Khaled Nordin Arrives In Berlin For UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 Forum
GENERAL By Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar BERLIN (Germany), May 13 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has arrived here to attend the two-day United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 Forum which begins today. His arrival at Berlin Brandenburg Airport at 5.36 pm local time, here last night together with a Defence Ministry delegation was received by the Charge d'Affaires / Counsellor of the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin Rozaime Mohamed Desa. Held from May 13 to 14, the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Forum will serve as a high-level political platform to discuss the future of peacekeeping and for member states to express and demonstrate their political support. The forum will also provide a stage for delegations to announce pledges to close capability gaps and adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities, in line with the pledging guide. The biannual forum brings together the country's top leaders and officials who support the security mission under the UN, with Mohamed Khaled taking the opportunity to voice his views and renew the country's commitment to supporting the global security effort. During the forum, Mohamed Khaled is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. -- BERNAMA
