Malaysia wants to renew the military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia for five years, ending in 2027, Malaysian Defense Ministry Secretary-General Muez bin Abdulaziz said.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdulaziz said the defense cooperation between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia is based on three pillars: military cooperation, collaboration in the defense industry, and cooperation in sponsoring veteran soldiers.
He explained that the two countries agreed to cooperate in military intelligence, medicine, and the exchange of military expertise.
The top official praised Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian role, represented by the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action (KSRelief), and its reach to all continents and assistance to those affected by various circumstances and crises.
Riyadh evacuated 673 Malaysians stranded in Yemen during the current crisis.
Abdulaziz explained that Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur have a common interest in ensuring the sustainability of the defense industry to guarantee their participation in the development of the defense industry internationally and locally.
He explained that both authorities cooperate in determining the appropriate type of assistance needed to support the well-being of veteran military personnel.
Asked about cooperation in the defense and the industrial sector, Abdulaziz noted that Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur agreed to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in science, technology, and the national defense industry, which expired in January 2021.
The Sec-Gen explained that the long-standing relations between Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur remained strong over the years through military exercises and exchanged official visits.
In 2017, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, visited Malaysia between February 26 and March 1, which boosted the cooperation in the defense field.
The two countries established a defense attaché office in 2015 and 2017.
The Sec-Gen explained that the visit of former Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to the Kingdom last month marked another milestone in the bilateral military and defense industry cooperation.
