Former Malaysian PM Mahathir urges cooperation, strengthened defense

LANGKAWI, Malaysia, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday urged cooperation among Asian nations to address global uncertainties and focus on safeguarding the well-being of the world.

The 100-year-old former leader, who first launched the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) over 30 years ago, visited the 17th edition of the exhibition here. He noted the development of technologies and advancements in the defense sector on display, especially the growth of the Malaysian defense industry.

"I think Asian countries must work together, but we must remember we are members of the whole world," he told Xinhua following his tour of the exhibition. "We must focus on our commitment to the well-being of the world."

"Also, there are many more Malaysian companies where before there were none. Malaysian companies are also involved in exhibiting their products, especially for the military. The new technologies (on display) are fantastic. I mean, they can see things which before were too far away, but now we can track ships and everything sailing in the (distant) sea," he said.

LIMA is a biennial event in Malaysia, first launched by Mahathir in 1991. It has grown into a major arms and technology expo, drawing hundreds of companies and showcasing various defense and aerospace technologies.

Separately, Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia is working to strengthen border security, particularly along its long coastline, which covers the critically important maritime trade route along the Malacca Straits. He emphasized the need to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, piracy, smuggling and marine pollution.

"True economic prosperity cannot be achieved without security at sea... Disruptions in supply chains, shifting geopolitics, and emerging security threats further emphasize the need for a strong and coordinated maritime defense posture. Malaysia will continue to enhance its naval and maritime enforcement capabilities to protect our national interests," he said Wednesday at the Malaysia Maritime Conference, which runs concurrently with LIMA.

Among the measures are the adoption of new advanced surveillance technologies, including the deployment of autonomous unmanned vehicles, the use of artificial intelligence for data analysis and maritime threat monitoring, and the securing of the underwater cable network, both within Malaysia's waters and through cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the region's waters.