Kuala Lumpur, 29 July 2026 – Malaysia is sharpening its push to build a stronger domestic defence industry, framing local production as both a national-security requirement and an industrial-development opportunity. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the country must reduce dependence on imports while expanding the manufacturing capabilities of Malaysian companies.

The signal followed a visit to Ketech Asia’s factory in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The company manufactures 5.56mm and 9mm ammunition to specifications aligned with international military standards. Its roadmap includes larger 7.62mm and 12.7mm rounds, propellants and heavy-artillery production, showing how the local supply base could move from narrow manufacturing niches into higher-value systems.