A nation on alert: Why Malaysia must strengthen its defenses against extremism

The warning signs are clear. From intelligence briefings in Europe suggesting Southeast Asia is a new target zone, to recent comments by our own DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the need for enhanced national preparedness, it is evident that Malaysia must not be caught off guard. “Hope for peace, but prepare for crisis” can no longer remain a slogan. It must become our collective policy.

Malaysia has long been praised for its quiet but firm role in counter-terrorism, having thwarted numerous planned attacks over the past two decades. Yet the threats we face today are no longer conventional. They are shapeshifting — from lone-wolf radicalization on social media to foreign-funded influence operations, to criminal networks disguised as ideological movements. In this new landscape, the lines between crime, extremism, and geopolitical manipulation have become dangerously blurred.

This is why national security must no longer be the sole responsibility of enforcement agencies. It must become a shared responsibility, with citizens, communities, and civil society all playing their part. In a time when misinformation and disinformation spreads faster than threats can be detected, early warning often begins with the people.

Malaysia’s Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has made important strides, but the demands of the future require even more. Embracing artificial intelligence, facial recognition, behavioural analytics, and integrated data platforms is not a luxury — it is a necessity. But technology alone is not enough. What is equally needed is public trust. The closer the relationship between law enforcement and citizens, the faster threats can be identified, isolated, and neutralized. A society in which police and public cooperate seamlessly is a society that is harder to harm.

At the same time, the government must act decisively. Boosting investment in national security infrastructure, reforming coordination between agencies, improving border intelligence, and investing in police professionalism are all critical. But equally crucial is economic stability. Financial hardship, rising inequality, and social frustration often become gateways to radicalization. Therefore, ensuring policies are well-communicated and people-centric is not only good governance — it is national defence.

Malaysia must also consider the international dimension. As we open our borders to welcome tourists, investors, students, and skilled workers under new visa-free and visa-friendly policies, we must simultaneously strengthen vetting mechanisms and inter-agency intelligence sharing. Thailand’s recent experience serves as a reminder: Thai authorities dismantled cross-border organized crime rings in 2024, showing that an open-door policy must be supported by solid internal safeguards. Economic recovery and security must move in tandem, not in contradiction.

Moreover, in line with Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN, we must elevate regional cooperation in security. Institutions like ASEANPOL must be empowered and modernized — not just to react after attacks happen, but to proactively anticipate, deter, and respond. Southeast Asia cannot become the soft underbelly of global extremism. As a region known for its harmony and resilience, we must ensure that peace remains the defining feature of ASEAN.

Malaysia today stands at a crossroads. The threats we face may be silent, even invisible — but their consequences are devastating. National defence is no longer just about weapons or war. It is about awareness, agility, and above all, unity. We must become a nation that sees before others do, that responds before others react, and that heals before others break.

In an era of uncertainty, our best defence is not fear, but foresight.

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CW Sim is Chief Strategic Advisor on Greater China, Strategic Pan Indo-Pacific Asia (SPIPA)