Malaysia’s Soft Diplomacy Approach Gains Global Recognition - Chief Of Defence Force

MUAR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The signing of the KL Peace Accord between Thailand and Cambodia highlights Malaysia’s maturity in practising soft diplomacy, demonstrating the nation’s ability to manage complex negotiations with wisdom and strategic finesse.

Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said Malaysia’s approach also received global recognition for its role in promoting regional stability, made possible through the professionalism of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), the Foreign Ministry, and relevant agencies.

“This soft yet effective form of defence diplomacy — the result of behind-the-scenes efforts by the MAF and the Foreign Ministry — has led to a landmark agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.

“It reflects not only the strong regional cooperation but also affirms Malaysia’s capability to employ soft diplomacy and play a vital role in advancing peace and maintaining the balance of power in Southeast Asia.”

He told reporters this after officiating the MAF Adopted Village and School Programme 2025 at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Perak here today.

Mohd Nizam said that following the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will pursue new and enhanced areas of defence cooperation among ASEAN member states.

“These include strengthening the Confidence Building Measures to foster trust among nations, setting up an ASEAN cybersecurity intelligence unit and holding more frequent joint military exercises.

“Greater engagement between countries and their armed forces will also promote mutual confidence and transparency, which in turn helps to resolve both visible and underlying issues,” he said.

On the two-day programme, Mohd Nizam said the MAF will adopt more schools under the Jiwa Murni-themed initiative.

“The school adoption effort is not just about financial support. I’ve proposed introducing mentor-mentee sessions because past experiences offer valuable lessons for students.

“We want to strengthen collaboration between the MAF and schools, which is essential to bridge generational understanding and instil a sense of responsibility towards the nation. This programme provides an excellent opportunity to do that.”

The programme’s highlights included the launch of the school’s Green Room Studio, a special podcast session, and the symbolic handover of a Robotics Set to the school principal as a sign of the MAF’s support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

-- BERNAMA