MELAKA: The Defence Ministry's Budget 2024 allocation of RM19.7bil will boost the country's capability to protect its interests in the South China Sea, a crucial waterway for commercial vessels and the fishing industry, says Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.
"The resource-rich South China Sea is an important maritime zone for Malaysia and we are committed to maintaining stability and peace along maritime borders.
"Our Defence White Paper emphasises the importance of the country's maritime borders in the aspect of revenue generation and the need to defend the nation's interests and sovereignty," he said after launching a workshop on political maturity at a hotel in Ayer Keroh here on Saturday (Oct 14).
When tabling Budget 2024 in Parliament on Friday (Oct 13), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation of RM19.7bil, an increase of RM2bil compared to this year, for the ministry for asset acquisition, border security and the welfare of Armed Forces personnel, among others.
Adly said the allocation would also be used to purchase three littoral mission ships (LMS) in 2024 to enhance the nation's defence capabilities, especially in the South China Sea where there is need to boost the country's naval capabilities.
LMS is a relatively small and thin vessel designed for stealth combat near coastlines and sometimes to take on bigger enemy vessels.
Adly unveiled that the three new ships would be stationed in Sarawak.
He said the allocation would also be used to build seven border posts at Melikin and Pa' Daleh in Sarawak as well as a security post each in Sungai Desa Aji Kuning and Sebatik Island in Sabah.
