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THE Malaysian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence will seek a meeting with the Prime Minister to request the release of funds following the recent announcement of a procurement freeze, amid concerns that the move is already affecting operational and development expenditure.
Chief of Defence Forces General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman said the armed forces were complying with the directive but stressed that the freeze had implications beyond procurement, extending to both operational expenditure and development spending.
“Of course, when procurement is frozen, I understand that it is temporary, but it certainly affects our progress in terms of development and operations,” he said.
He explained that operational expenditure covers the daily functioning of the armed forces, including active missions currently underway, while development expenditure involves longer-term projects that could tolerate some delay.
“Operational expenditure manages all daily routines, including ongoing operations. Development expenditure is long-term and can wait,” he said during a press conference after the ceremony marking the commencement of duties of the 24th Chief of Defence Forces at Wisma Pertahanan on Wednesday.
Malek Razak said operational spending includes essentials such as food, transportation, logistics, and the movement of officers and personnel deployed in the field, and any disruption would have a direct impact on overall military readiness.
He said estimated annual operational expenditure stood at about RM2 billion for the Malaysian Army, with the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force each requiring approximately RM1.5 billion.
According to Malek Razak, senior leadership at the Defence Ministry is now in the final stages of preparations before engaging the government, with discussions expected to take place as early as next week.
“I have been informed by the Defence Ministry and also by the Secretary-General that this matter is at its final stage, and we will present and appeal to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister,” he said.
He said the priority was to secure the release of operational expenditure to ensure continuity of military operations.
“At the very least, it is to release the operational expenditure so that we can continue operations. Otherwise, our readiness will decline. I believe that with the justifications provided, the most critical expenditure will be approved,” he said.
Malek Razak added that the armed forces remain hopeful the government will recognise the urgency of maintaining operational capability despite broader fiscal constraints. - February 4, 2026