Kota Tinggi:The government will restructure the deployment of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel to ensure a balanced distribution of defence assets between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, announced Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government aims to evenly split MAF personnel, with half stationed in the peninsula and the other half in Sabah and Sarawak. Currently, around two-thirds of MAF personnel are based in the peninsula, while the remainder are in Sabah and Sarawak, totaling approximately 20,000 personnel.

Mohamed Khaled emphasized the goal of achieving a 50-50 distribution to reporters after a ceremony in Kota Tinggi. He also addressed concerns about military developments on Balabac Island in the Philippines, near Malaysia, stating that the situation should be viewed in terms of preparedness rather than a direct threat.

Additionally, he discussed the government's intention to pursue a claim against a Norwegian company for cancelling the export licence of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system to Malaysia. The government is evaluating replacement options from three countries, with costs estimated between RM700 million and over RM1 billion, requiring new funding. The process for securing the replacement system must be expedited due to the lengthy timeline of missile procurements. The Norwegian government had cited national security concerns for the cancellation, leading Malaysia to send a letter of demand for over RM1 billion. The government is now awaiting a response.