Kuala lumpur: UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasized the necessity of enhancing people's resilience as a critical element of national defense against increasingly intricate security threats. Mohamed Khaled, also serving as the Defence Minister, highlighted that national security threats have evolved from conventional to hybrid forms, merging both traditional and non-conventional threats, collectively termed as cognitive warfare.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled explained that cognitive warfare involves strategic efforts to manipulate how individuals think, evaluate information, make decisions, and act. This warfare is systematically executed through misinformation, fake news, or propaganda disseminated via digital platforms, exploitation of algorithms, and psychological operations. Such tactics pose significant risks as they can undermine national identity, incite serious religious and racial conflicts, and destabilize societal cohesion.
During the winding-up session of the 2026 UMNO General Assembly (PAU26), Mohamed Khaled stressed that achieving national resilience extends beyond possessing advanced military assets or ensuring the preparedness of military personnel. It demands cultivating people's resilience as a formidable defense mechanism against threats. He advocated for fostering patriotism, instilling love for the country, and enhancing the ability to manage challenges as integral components of building resilience.
He further elaborated on the role of community leaders in fostering resilience by promoting unity and harmony while resisting propaganda designed to sow division within society. "UMNO, as a political party, can contribute significantly to building people's resilience and, consequently, fortifying national defense. We are not calling for armed resistance; rather, we aim to instill correct attitudes and values to effectively manage threats," he stated.
In an additional context, Mohamed Khaled, who also chairs the UMNO Constitution and Rules Committee, announced that a decision regarding the proposal to raise the membership age limit for UMNO Puteri to 40 would be deferred until after the next general election. He underscored the need for comprehensive consideration of this proposal, as any amendment would not only impact Puteri UMNO but also UMNO Wanita and the party as a whole. "The party has agreed, with the president's consent, to finalize this decision post the forthcoming general election," he concluded.