KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — The Malaysian Armed Forces today dismissed rumours that the United States is setting up a military base in Sabah.

Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said in a statement that the rumours were “untrue”.

He said the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces had no intention of allowing a foreign military base to be established in Malaysia.

An online portal last Wednesday reported that sacked Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had asked in the Dewan Rakyat if it was true that Putrajaya had allowed the US to build an army base in Sabah.

He said that if the rumours were true, it would only show that Malaysia was unable to defend itself. — Bernama