{
  "id": 13830002,
  "title": "Peruntukan belanjawan perlu tampung kekurangan pelaburan dalam pertahanan, kata penganalisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/peruntukan-belanjawan-perlu-tampung-kekurangan-pelaburan-dalam-13830002",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/12/peruntukan-belanjawan-perlu-tampung-kekurangan-pelaburan-dalam-pertahanan-kata-penganalisis"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2027, Malaysia allocated RM22 billion for defense, a 1.2% increase from the 2026 budget, according to the Ministry of Defense. (Picture: TLDM) Analyst Izzah Khairina Ibrahim from Malaysia Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISTIS) suggests that a portion of the RM7.1 billion defense and safety budget should be utilized to address the shortage of equipment within the armed forces over the years. The current defense spending is maintained at around 1% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), despite equipment exceeding its operational lifespan. She noted that the armed forces' assets might not be balanced to face threats such as non-traditional security challenges, blue-water zones, asymmetric and hybrid threats, as well as high-tech warfare. \"While there has been incremental advancement, modernization remains gradual, with only 34% of this year's budget going towards development spending, compared to 65.7% for operational spending,\" she told FMT. The 2027 budget allocates RM22 billion each to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Domestic Affairs (MDO), marking a 1.2% increase from the 2026 budget. She emphasized that the substantial budget allocation to the Ministry of Defense reflects a cautious and pragmatic approach to national security, acknowledging that Malaysia cannot maintain national safety and public defense solely through military strength. However, continuous investment is required across sectors, including defense cybersecurity and electromagnetic systems, as well as secure and autonomous communication and coordination. Lam Choong Wah from the University of Malaya stated that the armed forces require funds for a major modernization plan, including for the Navy and Air Force. He suggested that the Ministry of Defense should accept a larger allocation compared to the MDO due to operational and acquisition costs. Nevertheless, with the government's primary focus on reducing living expenses, other sectors like defense must compromise. Mizan Aslam from the Global Peace Institute highlighted the need for increased defense budget allocations over the past five years due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and tensions in the Middle East. \"We need more assets and systems that can adapt to the changing world now,\" he said.",
  "summary": "Izzah Khairina Ibrahim berkata aset ketinggalan zaman dan ancaman baharu pertahanan menjadikan pemodenan sangat penting.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Peruntukan belanjawan perlu tampung kekurangan pelaburan dalam pertahanan, kata penganalisis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/peruntukan-belanjawan-perlu-tampung-kekurangan-pelaburan-dalam",
        "published": "2026-10-11T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}