INDIA-MALAYSIA DEFENCE COOPERATION

• Recently, Indian Defence Minister interacted with his Malaysian counterpart to deepen Defence Cooperation between the two countries.
• The Malaysian air force has been looking for 18 new light fighter jets with several nations, including South Korea, Pakistan, China and Sweden, making a pitch. The Indian offer is for the LCA Mk1A version
• India has offered a dual package for the indigenous fighter jets as well as maintenance of the Russian origin Su30 MKM aircraft being operated by Malaysia.

Highlights of the Meeting

• Both countries highlighted the areas in which Indian defence industries could assist Malaysia. India invited senior officers from Malaysia to India to get a first-hand experience of the facilities and products of Indian defence industry.
• Malaysia expressed the need for inducting women personnel in peace keeping missions. Both sides agreed to engage each other on this issue.
• Both countries agreed to upgrade capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• Both sides discussed the existing defence cooperation activities and framework between the two countries, and ways to further enhance them under the existing Malaysia India Defence Cooperation Meeting (MIDCOM) framework.
• The next MIDCOM is scheduled to held in July 2022, and it was decided to use this platform for a deeper engagement in defence.

Key Points of India-Malaysia Relations

• India established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957.
• Economic Relation: India and Malaysia have signed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). CECA is a kind of Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
• India has also signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in services and investments with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Malaysia is the third largest trading partner in ASEAN.
• Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia is significantly biased in favour of Malaysia.
• Defence& Security Cooperation: Joint military exercises “Harimau Shakti” are held annually between the two countries.
• Traditional medicine: India and Malaysia have signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine in October 2010.
• The Government of Malaysia has been working to popularize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems in Malaysia.
• AYUSH systems are practiced in Malaysia.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT