Masalah dan cabaran pembangunan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) pasca perang dingin (1991-2019)

The Cold War has influenced the security discourse, with discussions more focused on traditional security threats, while the post-Cold War has seen security threats increasingly involve non-traditional threats. The development of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has started since 1957, and in 1979, the government introduced the Special Development of the Armed Forces (PERISTA) which has led to further development and modernization of the MAF. In the post-Cold War, the MAF’s efforts have been made to develop and modernize the defence sector more drastically. The rapid modernization of the MAF can be clearly seen through the government's actions that focus on development initiatives in the aspects of National Defence Policy (NDP), Strategy, Logistics, Budget, Defence Industry, and External Relations. However, despite the rapid and successful development of the MAF, there are still various issues that raise further questions about the problems faced in the development of the MAF. Thus, this research was conducted to examine the problems faced by the MAF in the implementation of the military development of the MAF in the Post-Cold War. This study also identifies weaknesses and challenges, analyses the problem of the MAF development and the impact on national security, and proposes actions to improve the MAF development initiatives to ensure national security. This research uses qualitative methods in conducting research that involves the analysis of data from primary sources obtained from interviews, official government reports, as well as information obtained from fieldwork. This research found that there were weaknesses in the development of the MAF that did not meet the specifications of the RMA leading to weaknesses of the MAF modernization efforts. The research also found that there were weaknesses in the NDP, weaknesses in the MAF defence strategies, and problems in purchasing assets, and the MAF logistical development that could not manifest the RMA in terms of strengthening deterrence capacity, lack of budget allocation, and limited defence spending, weaknesses, and challenges of defence industry development, as well as the importance of approaches in shaping the MAF external relations. This research found that the development efforts that have been designed and implemented by the MAF are not in line with RMA. This study has concluded that there are several problems and challenges in the post-Cold War initiatives to develop the MAF. Therefore, this study suggests continuous strengthening on key components in the MAF development. These efforts can directly increase the development and modernization capacity of the MAF, which will ultimately lead to a better and more robust level of RMA capabilit