Malaysia

Malaysian NGOs are concerned about the carte blanche given to the Ministry of Defence for arms purchases while health, education and other social services are still so deplorable. The total security allocation under the Tenth Malaysia Plan is RM23 billion. Through the years, the allocation for security (internal security + defence) has been as high as 15.9% and 15.0% under the 3rd and 6th Malaysia Plans while the allocation for health has been as low as 1.6% and 1.0% under the 4th and 5th Malaysia Plans respectively.

MAGGIE HELWIG

10/03/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

There is no legislation providing for conscription at present, as the 1952 National Service Act has been officially repealed. Conscription has existed in the past. (see: history)

There are no known plans to introduce conscription. In the 1990s the Malaysian armed forces have difficulties obtaining the requisite number of recruits, particularly officers.