Defence minister Khaled Nordin noted that Sabah faces various traditional and non-traditional security challenges that need to be addressed.

“We want to tackle the security issues in Sabah comprehensively, strengthen overall security, and establish a new naval base to accommodate the new vessels that will be arriving in a year or two.

“Similarly, we are deploying high-security drone technology in Sabah waters and working on increasing the number of coastal radars to ensure no areas are left ‘unseen’,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the armed forces’ family day carnival at the Kubota Camp in Tawau, Sabah.

In his speech, Khaled stressed that public involvement is crucial in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and safety.

He said the Defence White Paper, which was designed to chart the nation’s direction for national defence from 2020 to 2030, recognises the important role that communities play through a “whole of society” approach.

“This is especially important in Sabah, where the public can act as the eyes and ears of the national security forces.

“The public can report any criminal activity so that appropriate action can be taken. Their contribution is essential to the success of the national security ecosystem,” he said.