KOTA KINABALU, Oct 4 (Bernama) — Budget 2023 should emphasise new acquisitions, and upgrade the capabilities of military assets through increased defence allocations to tackle threats to national security, said Eastern Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Datuk Sabri Zali.

He said the increase in the defence budget was critical especially in improving the capability of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (TLDM) combat assets which are getting outdated and becoming obsolete, which is the main challenge in its efforts to manage the deployment of its assets at the maximum level.

He said with the change in the current landscape of maritime threats and the intervention of major powers in the South China Sea, TLDM is in dire need of combat-capable assets to tackle security threats to the country.

“Presently, the combat capability of TLDM assets is at a critical level. In fact, the assets under the Eastern Fleet only consist of Flotilla Ronda (for patrolling) which are not equipped with combat capabilities such as weapon systems, surveillance radars, trackers and missiles.

“Therefore, the acquisition of new assets such as the Littoral Combat Ship and the Littoral Mission Ship of the second group is very critical for the TLDM to carry out the duties and trusts entrusted to them,” he said in a statement tonight.

He said the Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters support the proposal put forth by Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany urging the government to increase the country’s defence budget to 1.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The defence budget should be likened to buying an insurance policy for national security which will face high risk if only the minimum policy is purchased.  This will have a detrimental effect on the country when it is facing a security crisis,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency