Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Brunei have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under ASEAN-led security and defence mechanisms in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this collaboration includes engagement through platforms such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), and ADMM-Plus. The reaffirmation was made in a joint statement following discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, during the 26th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders' Consultation.
The joint statement highlighted the satisfaction of both leaders with the ongoing defence cooperation, which is strengthened through regular exchanges of visits, training courses, and military exercises. Both countries commended the contributions of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in maintaining international peace and stability under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The leaders also expressed appreciation for the ongoing participation of senior defence officials in key events, including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA '25), scheduled from May 20 to 24, as well as other defence-related programmes. They noted the progress achieved during the 4th Bilateral Meeting between the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) of Brunei and the National Disaster Management Agency of Malaysia (NADMA).
The statement noted that both leaders welcomed discussions on forming the Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Disaster Management. This development is seen as a significant step to enhance bilateral cooperation. Additionally, Brunei expressed appreciation for Malaysia's support through the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) in conducting a scoping mission in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The leaders acknowledged the findings of the mission as valuable input to support Brunei's preparation for obtaining the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) External Classification (IEC). They also noted the establishment of a Joint Committee under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Areas of Syariah Judiciary, which will include sharing court judgments, exchanging publications, conducting joint research, and academic collaboration in Syariah Law.
Both leaders anticipated renewing the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education. They commended ongoing collaborations between educational institutions in Malaysia and Brunei, which include scholarship opportunities in higher education, student and academic staff exchanges, mobility programmes, and efforts to enhance technical and vocational training. Anwar and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah encouraged relevant agencies in Brunei to explore placements for Bruneian students in multinational corporations in Malaysia to enhance skills, employability, and career opportunities.