Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin has announced that the Defence White Paper, passed in Parliament in 2019, is slated for a mid-term review this year to assess its efficacy and identify potential enhancements.

The review will consider changes and developments since its inception, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and the reintroduction of the National Service Training Programme.

Khaled outlined five key areas for consideration during the review, including the possibility of establishing a special task force to combat cyber crimes and digital threats.

Additionally, the use of big data and artificial intelligence for threat monitoring and defense industry expansion will be explored.

The mid-term review, set to conclude in 2024, aims to fine-tune the Defence White Paper and align it with the evolving national security landscape.

The Defence Ministry plans to engage various stakeholders, including safety and security entities, defense industry representatives, civil society, and foreign partners, through a comprehensive approach involving meetings, workshops, townhalls, conferences, forums, and online feedback questionnaires.