Military build-up on Philippine island risks conflict spillover to nearby Malaysia, says Khaled Nordin

Kota Tinggi — Malaysia has downplayed concerns over the growing military presence on the southern Philippine island of Balabac, stating it poses no direct threat to them, said Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the country's Defence Minister. Nordin emphasized that the primary concern lies in the island's proximity to Malaysia, as any minor dispute or conflict in the region could potentially escalate and impact Malaysia.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new Islamic orphanage, Nordin also announced Malaysia's ambition to achieve a 50-50 distribution of its Armed Forces personnel between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. Currently, roughly two-thirds of the personnel are stationed in Peninsular Malaysia, with the remaining third in Sabah and Sarawak.

Nordin revealed that there are around 20,000 active personnel in Sabah and Sarawak at any given time. He explained that this balanced deployment aligns with Malaysia's national defense strategy, taking into account the geographical proximity of Sabah and Sarawak to areas where potential conflicts may arise. Balabac Island is one of nine Philippine locations governed by the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which authorizes US forces to conduct joint training and exercises on the island.

The island lies approximately 50 kilometers from Sabah's Pulau Banggi. The mounting military activity on Balabac has garnered attention in Malaysia amid broader geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, as well as the Philippines' persistent claim over Sabah, a territory Malaysia refuses to acknowledge.