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

Kota Kinabalu, September 26 — The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (Mindef) inaugurated the National Defence Literacy Programme (NDLP) to increase public awareness, knowledge, and comprehension of national defence, security, and sovereignty. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasised that the evolving security landscape necessitates a deeper understanding of national defence and the role Malaysians can play in preserving the nation's sovereignty.

He described defence literacy as awareness, knowledge, and skill that every citizen should possess. The NDLP, hosted at the Sabah International Convention Centre, featured representatives from various defence bodies, including Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Army chief Gen Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman, and MiDAS chief executive Laksdya Datuk Yusne Mokhtar.

Mohamed Khaled highlighted the complexity of modern security threats, which extend beyond physical or military dangers to the digital realm. He asserted that the NDLP aims to build public resilience, enabling the defense of national security and sovereignty. The programme, led by MiDAS in collaboration with the National Defence University of Malaysia, targets various sectors of society, emphasizing that anyone can contribute to national defence without joining the military.

The one-day event included talks on cognitive threats and national warriors, shedding light on how modern threats undermine public perception and understanding.