ReportedBernama· 30 OctSingle source
Bernama reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia's military build-up in Sabah is not a direct response to the Philippines' military build-up on Balabac Island but part of preparations to limit the impact of any regional escalation.
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“"Every country has the right to strengthen its military capabilities, and Malaysia will do the same. However, our efforts are not a reaction to what the Philippines is doing in its southern region, but part of our preparations to ensure that any escalation of tensions will have minimal impact on Malaysia," he told reporters”
ReportedBernama· 30 OctSingle source
Bernama reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government would consider acquiring a second batch of more modern and advanced fighter aircraft, with the country of origin for future procurement not yet determined.
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“He said the government would also consider acquiring a second batch of more modern and advanced fighter aircraft to further strengthen the country's air defence capabilities, although the country of origin for future procurement had yet to be determined.”
ReportedSinar Harian· 28 Oct 2026Single source
Sinar Harian reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia over its security challenges and is ready to offer assistance within its capability, conveying this in a phone call with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud.
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“"Malaysia berdiri teguh dan bersolidariti bersama Arab Saudi ketika negara itu menghadapi cabaran keselamatan dan bersedia untuk memberikan bantuan mengikut kemampuan kami. Semoga Arab Saudi dan rakyatnya selamat dan sejahtera, insya-Allah," katanya menerusi hantaran dalam akaun X.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 28 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said ASEAN's strength lies in mutual trust, the willingness to manage differences constructively and the determination to defend the region's wider interests, and that no single member state can secure ASEAN's future alone.
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““ASEAN tidak boleh menjamin masa depannya melalui tindakan mana-mana negara anggota secara bersendirian. “Kekuatan kita terletak pada kepercayaan yang dibina sesama sendiri, kesediaan mengurus perbezaan secara konstruktif dan tekad mempertahankan kepentingan lebih luas rantau ini,” katanya.”
ReportedSinar Harian, Utusan Malaysia· 28 Oct 2026✓ Confirmed by 2 sources
Sinar Harian reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in his opening address at the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting in Cebu that disputes in the South China Sea must not be allowed to split ASEAN or undermine the peace built over decades.
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“"Tiada pertikaian, sedalam mana sekalipun akar umbinya, boleh dibiarkan memecahbelahkan ASEAN atau menjejaskan keamanan yang telah kita bina selama berdekad-dekad," katanya pad Rabu.”
ReportedKosmo· 28 Oct 2026Single source
Kosmo reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia believes ASEAN should take more proactive and coordinated initiatives to strengthen preparedness for and recovery from non-traditional threats.
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““Jadi, Malaysia berpandangan bahawa kita perlu mengambil inisiatif lebih proaktif dan terselaras bagi memperkukuh keupayaan rakyat membuat persediaan, menghadapi kemungkinan serta pulih daripada kejutan sedemikian,” katanya.”
ReportedKosmo, Sinar Harian, Utusan Malaysia· 28 Oct 2026✓ Confirmed by 3 sources
Kosmo reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said ASEAN must strengthen regional disaster-response capability and coordination, including through the ASEAN Military Ready Group for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, arguing no member state can fully handle such challenges alone.
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“Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, dalam konteks ini, tiada negara anggota ASEAN mampu menangani cabaran itu secara bersendirian sepenuhnya.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 27 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the ministry's White Paper on Defence underpins efforts through Perhebat to guarantee a more secure and dignified post-service quality of life for armed forces personnel, and that he wants Perhebat to strengthen an integrated ecosystem linking retirees directly with industry and the job market, including through TVET.
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“Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, ia merupakan hasil usaha kementeriannya menerusi Kertas Putih Pertahanan bagi memastikan kualiti hidup pasca perkhidmatan anggota ATM lebih terjamin dan bermaruah.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 26 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said three producer countries — France, Italy and Turkiye — have been shortlisted to replace the NSM missile, and that procurement will take three to four years to allow integration with the combat management system of the Littoral Combat Ships.
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“Katanya, setakat ini tiga negara pengeluar bagi menggantikan misil tersebut telah disenarai pendek iaitu Perancis, Itali dan Turkiye.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 26 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the FA-50M aircraft would be stationed at the Kuantan Air Base in Pahang and partly at the Labuan Air Base in Sabah.
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“Katanya, pesawat berkenaan akan ditempatkan di Pangkalan Udara Kuantan, Pahang dan sebahagiannya di Pangkalan Udara Labuan, Sabah.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 24 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin said a counter-unmanned aircraft system valued at RM40 million received from Japan would be deployed at several locations including Sepanggar in Sabah and the federal territory of Labuan.
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““Aset itu akan ditempatkan di beberapa lokasi termasuk Sepanggar dan Labuan,” katanya semasa sidang akhbar Majlis Perasmian Perhimpunan Agung Negara Ke-100 Persatuan Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM) semalam.”
ReportedKosmo· 24 Oct 2026Single source
Kosmo reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Ministry of Defence would put forward a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers to hold a dedicated ATM Veterans Day as an official occasion to recognise former Armed Forces personnel's service and strengthen ties between veterans and the public.
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“Melalui sambutan Hari Veteran, kita mahu memastikan jasa dan pengorbanan mereka terus dikenang, di samping menyemarakkan hubungan antara veteran dengan masyarakat.”
RecordKosmo· Jul 2025Single source
Kosmo reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin, as Defence Minister, launched the Kemahiran Keluarga Tentera (K²T) programme in July 2025 as a Defence Ministry initiative run through Yayasan LTAT, with 113 courses held or scheduled up to November 2026 via the national community college network.
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“Sejak peluncuran K²T oleh Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin pada Julai 2025 sebagai salah satu inisiatif Kementerian Pertahanan melalui Yayasan Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (Yayasan LTAT), sebanyak 113 kursus telah dan dijadual dilaksanakan sehingga November 2026 menerusi rangkaian Kolej Komuniti di seluruh negara.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 18 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohamed Khaled said both countries agreed to increase bilateral military exercises, including cyber elements, and to explore signing a Maritime cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, while Japan proposed annual defence ministerial meetings held alternately in each country.
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“Kedua-dua negara turut bersetuju memperbanyak latihan ketenteraan bilateral, termasuk menerapkan elemen siber, selain meneroka pemeteraian Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) kerjasama Maritim bagi menyusun kerjasama secara lebih teratur,” katanya.”
ReportedUtusan Malaysia· 18 Oct 2026Single source
Utusan Malaysia reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia and Japan agreed to explore government-to-government (G2G) procurement of defence assets, intended not only to meet Malaysian Armed Forces operational needs but also to bring long-term benefits to the local defence industry.
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“Sehubungan itu, Malaysia dan Jepun bersetuju meneroka kaedah perolehan aset pertahanan secara kerajaan dengan kerajaan (G2G), bukan sekadar untuk memenuhi keperluan operasi Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), malah turut membawa manfaat jangka panjang kepada industri pertahanan tempatan.”
ReportedBernama· 20 OctSingle source
Bernama reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia's defence cooperation with Japan should now reflect the maturity of the bilateral relationship elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.
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“The Malaysian minister referred to the elevation of the two countries' bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in 2023 and said, "I believe our defence cooperation should now reflect the maturity of this relationship."”
ReportedBernama· 19 Oct 2025Single source
Bernama reported that Mohamed Khaled Nordin said closer ties based on trust and mutual respect would open up more opportunities for defence cooperation benefiting both Malaysia and Japan.
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“I believe closer ties based on trust and mutual respect will open up more opportunities for defence cooperation that benefit both countries,”
ReportedBernama· 19 Oct 2025Single source
Bernama reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia and Japan have the potential to expand defence industry cooperation through technology transfer, local component development and participation in global supply chains, after a meeting with Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA).
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“Malaysia and Japan have the potential to expand defence industry cooperation through technology transfer, local component development and participation in global supply chains, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.”
ReportedBernama, Kosmo· 18 Oct✓ Confirmed by 2 sources
Bernama reported that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said his four-day official working visit to Japan, anchored by the Malaysia-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aims to strengthen defence ties and expand cooperation, and includes bilateral meetings with Japan's defence and foreign ministers, a meeting with the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency, and attendance at the signing of grant assistance documents under Japan's Official Security Assistance programme.
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“He said the four-day visit, anchored by the Malaysia-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aims to strengthen defence ties and expand the scope of cooperation between the two nations.”