Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin calls on Palapes trainees to explore advanced fields like AI and cybersecurity to support national defence.
ARAU: The Reserve Officer Training Unit (PALAPES) trainees should explore new knowledge and ideas that can help strengthen the country’s defence, in addition to sharing the knowledge learned at universities.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) greatly needed talented individuals who are intelligent, knowledgeable and possess expertise in various fields.
He said the defence landscape today required new competencies and capabilities not only in military affairs but also in various fields.
“Some of the fields are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning; Data Science and Data Engineering; Cybersecurity; Software Engineering; Autonomy and Robotics; Drone Technology and Unmanned Systems; Electronic and Electromagnetic Warfare;
“Signal Intelligence; Cryptography and Encryption; Aerospace Technology and Engineering; Biotechnology; Defence Medicine and many more,” he said in his keynote address at the Defence Minister’s Executive Lecture with PALAPES cadet officers from public universities at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) here today.
Also present was Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman.
During the lecture, the Defence Minister also witnessed the signing of a strategic collaboration note between the Malaysian Army (TDM) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), which was inked by Army Chief General Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman and Higher Education director-general Captain (Honorary) Datuk Professor Dr Azlinda Azman.
Mohamed Khaled said all these fields are becoming increasingly critical in shaping modern defence capabilities and will be among the pillars in developing the Future Force.
He said that almost all fields of knowledge that were previously considered unrelated to defence now need to include defence elements in their syllabus.
“So, don’t view the knowledge acquired at university as something separate from national defence. Any development in a field of knowledge can serve as a foundation and catalyst for exploring new defence strategies.
“And all that is no longer an isolated trend. Instead, it has become a strategic pillar in ensuring the peace and sovereignty of a country,” he added.
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