Troops must not share sensitive content on social media, says minister
TAWAU : Members of the Malaysian armed forces have been reminded to refrain from uploading sensitive content on social media, particularly related to security assets, to prevent hostile parties from identifying the nation's defence capabilities.
Defence minister Khaled Nordin said he was confident that armed forces commanders would issue firm instructions to their personnel to use social media responsibly and avoid compromising national security.
'Sometimes in their eagerness to showcase training or equipment, some personnel may unintentionally reveal where such assets are stored.
'This could expose our strengths to those with ill intent,' he told reporters after officiating the Tawau 2025 Civil-Military Cooperation (Cimic) carnival at the Tawau Sports Complex today.
Khaled was responding to a reminder issued yesterday by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, who cautioned military personnel against sharing everything on social media, particularly sensitive information related to troop movements and operations.
Meanwhile, Khaled said the defence ministry continues to acquire strategic assets annually to strengthen national security.
These are not off-the-shelf purchases, he stressed, but custom orders tailored to the armed forces's operational needs across land, air and sea to ensure suitability and effective deployment.
'We have already procured 18 FA-50 aircraft from South Korea, three littoral mission ships and are continuing with the construction of the littoral combat ships, alongside radar purchases to bolster our national defence,' he said.
Commenting on ongoing global conflicts, including in Russia-Ukraine, Gaza, Iran-Israel, and India-Pakistan, he said these developments highlight the importance of Malaysia prioritising the acquisition of technology-driven defence assets.
'We are also aware of ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, which remain a serious concern. The government is committed to ensuring balanced defence preparedness between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,' he added.
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