By Refana Juanda
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Tuesday 17 April 2012 - The Putrajaya Forum was officially launched at the Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, by the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MIDAS). The three day forum, themed ‘Enhancing Multilateralism for Regional Defence and Security’, was opened by the Defence Minister of Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This was followed by presentations from high profile speakers such as His Excellency Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General for ASEAN; His Excellency Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy, United Kingdom; and His Excellency Dr Ng Eng Hen, Defence Minister of Singapore.
The Deputy Minister of Defence of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Transpacific Partnership Program (TPP): Challenges to Defence Offset Program’.
In his presentation, the Deputy Minister discussed the merits of the Transpacific Partnership Programme (TPP) which aim to eliminate tariffs to trade and investment, among others. However, he argued, the benefits of offsets in defence procurement, in terms of technology transfer and industrial participation, far outweigh the value of free and open trading. Defence offsets can increase defence production, build up expertise and capabilities, and expand defence industrial bases. As such, he believed that defence offsets will continue to be an important tool in government defence procurement process in the future.
At the sidelines of the forum, the Deputy Minister made separate calls on Defence Minister of Malaysia Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Deputy Minister of Defence Honorable Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff bin Haji Ahmad. He also met with His Excellency Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN; His Excellency Gerald Howarth, the Minister of International Security Strategy; His Excellency General Miechzyslaw Cieniuch, the Chief of General Staff of the Poland Armed Forces, and His Excellency Lt General Sher Mohammad Karimi, the Chief of Army Staff, Afghanistan.
Also attending the forum was the Commander of The Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin and the Permanent Secretary of Defence (Administration and Finance) Hajah Suriyah Haji Umar.
The Putrajaya Forum is part of the biennially-held Defence Services Asia (DSA) which also features a defence exhibition, attracting 280 delegations from thirty five nations and 25,000 trade visitors.