MALAYSIA’S GEOSTRATEGIC POSITION, ROLE IN TECHNOLOGY SECTORS BOOSTS GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE - MKN

By Ahmad Syabil Sultan Noordin Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s unique geostrategic position and its strength in critical technology sectors have enhanced the country’s strategic value on the international stage, compared to three decades ago.

National Security Council (MKN) director-general Datuk Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin said these developments have made Malaysia increasingly relevant in global dynamics, particularly as the world faces prolonged geopolitical uncertainties.

In this context, Malaysia has also drawn the attention of major powers with vested interests in the stability and smooth functioning of the international system, thereby reshaping the country’s security approach in an increasingly complex new era.

“This importance is further reinforced by the fact that an estimated 30 to 40 per cent of international oil trade passes through Malaysian waters, making the country a vital artery in the global energy supply chain.

“Beyond location, Malaysia’s dominance in the technology sector through its key role in the global semiconductor supply chain, as well as its strong potential in rare earth elements (REE) production, has also placed the country on the radar of major powers,” he told Bernama recently.

Raja Nurshirwan said that four key factors contribute to this increased value, including Malaysia’s unique geographical position as the only country bordering two of the world’s most critical trade routes, namely the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.

He added that projections indicating Southeast Asia will become a global growth centre over the next 30 to 40 years also benefit Malaysia, which is located at the heart of the region.

“This position opens up opportunities for Malaysia to play a more constructive and balanced role in international relations,” he said.

These advantages, when combined with capabilities in critical technologies, directly influence national security dimensions, which are no longer confined to physical borders.

“The development of AI (artificial intelligence) introduces a new dimension in security, as for the first time in human history, we have something capable of creating, which was previously only possible for humans. This fundamentally changes the landscape of international and domestic security,” he explained.

Commenting on the evolution of security threats, Raja Nurshirwan said the current landscape is far more complex with the emergence of hybrid warfare involving multiple coordinated methods of attack.

He added that modern threats are no longer limited to physical conflict, but also encompass the “grey zone”, including mind conditioning, cyberattacks and the exploitation of AI.

Touching on the role of MKN, he stressed that the agency operates at the policy and strategic coordination level to ensure all enforcement agencies move in an organised and integrated manner.

He said under the National Security Council Act 2016, the director-general’s primary responsibility is to collect, correlate and coordinate intelligence information for dissemination to relevant government entities.

“In today’s highly complex environment, such coordination is crucial. The existence of silos is, in fact, a weakness in national security management,” he said.

-- BERNAMA