Abstract

As a consequence of 30 years of peace since the end of the Communist Insurgency, the Malaysian public at large has developed a serious disconnect with the Malaysian Armed Forces. This, in turn, has created a considerable barrier to having effective and meaningful public discourse regarding national defense policy and military reforms.

In order to restart this conversation, this conference aims to achieve the following:

• Foster an understanding of the role of the military and civilian population in upholding national defence and security.
• Provide a basic framework for youths to understand the national defense and national security policy.
• Provide a platform for young military officers and young civilians to network and experience problem-solving activities together, thereby bridging the gap between them.
• Explain the importance of youth involvement and the possible avenues for participation in defending the country.

This conference is organized by #Undi18 and supported by the office of the Deputy Defence Minister, YB Liew Chin Tong and the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia