KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Malaysia is not obligated to heed the recommendation made by major powers to raise its defence spending to 5 per cent of Gross National Product (GNP), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Khaled suggested the push for more defence spending only serves the interest of foreign powers who want neutral nations on the frontlines during major conflicts, in allusion seemingly made towards countries that are seen as hostile to China.

“There are countries recommending that we raise our defence expenditure to five per cent of GNP. The intention is that these major powers want us out in front whenever there is a clash, conflict, or war,” Khaled said in reply to William Leong (PH-Selayang).

Malaysia and Southeast Asia have long committed to a non-aligned foreign policy that had been formally codified amid geopolitical tension caused by the Cold War.

Khaled said Mindef will manage its defence budget based on its own national capabilities.

Putrajaya allocates roughly 1.0 to 1.1 per cent of national output to defence spending annually, according to Malaysian Defence, an online defence magazine. Under Budget 2026 the Ministry of Defence was allocated RM21.7 billion.

“We want to state clearly that we are not married to any major power. We are free, we are neutral, and we spend and allocate funds according to our own capability,” the minister said, adding that the country’s military doctrine is purely defensive.

“Our defence doctrine is meant to defend the nation, not to attack any country,” he said.