Malaysia tabled its first Defence White Paper in Parliament on Monday, but critics said the 10-year policy plan that was meant to address terror threats and military tension in disputed waters was short on a detailed strategy.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu explained that although Malaysia is not involved in armed conflicts with other countries, it faces territorial disputes and non-traditional threats across its borders, thus requiring the country to take pre-emptive measures.

“The main role of the Malaysian Armed Forces is to maintain the peace we have and always be ready to defend the nation’s interests and sovereignty. A Latin saying goes: ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’. Which means ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’,” he said in a statement.

Mohamad said the country’s defence initiatives under the white paper would need an annual allocation of at least 1 per cent of the country’s GDP.

The white paper is meant to function as the country’s 10-year policy plan for defence and national security, structured to not only deal with internal challenges like natural disasters and terrorism threats, but also external geopolitical risks stemming from regional tensions between the US and its waning influence in the region.

Tensions continued to escalate in recent months, with US warships sailing near various disputed islands, in what the US Navy described a challenge to excessive territorial claims in the region.

Malaysia has said that it needs to boost its naval capabilities to prepare for possible conflict in the region, but Mohamad said his ministry could not reveal the figure and assets it plans to procure.

Despite the “historic” tabling, opposition parties have argued that the white paper failed to address matters regarding Malaysia’s territorial claims in the contested South China Sea, as well as its operational capabilities.

“The white paper does not show an approach that can strengthen our defence. Our territories are being encroached [on] by outsiders, but there are still no actions from the Malaysian side.

“These are our territories, these sandbanks, but the waters are patrolled by China,” said Barisan Nasional (BN) Member of Parliament Shahidan Kassim.

He said content in the white paper were also lifted from an earlier Ministry of Defence Pledge booklet, which was launched by the government in April last year when BN was the ruling party.

Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein added that the white paper lacked details on the ministry’s plans for the country’s safety and security, calling it “disappointing and worrying” with many “loopholes”.

THE STRAITS TIMES/ANN