KUALA LUMPUR (March 21): Malaysia will continue to grow its defence spending in support of a long term plan by the armed forces to modernise and upgrade their equipment, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

According to report by Bernama today, Najib highlighted that a total of RM26 billion had been allocated under the 11th Malaysia Plan to bolster defence, public order and enforcement.

"Defence and security are of paramount importance to any nation as they are vital for maintaining territorial integrity and national sovereignty," he said at the officiation of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2017 (LIMA '17).

The exhibition brings together major aerospace and maritime firms from around the world to demonstrate their state-of-the-art static and aerial displays and cutting-edge technologies, which augured well with the need to equip the Armed Forces with the capabilities to face modern warfare, Najib said.

Malaysia needed to equip its armed forces with the capabilities required to face modern warfare, both symmetrically and asymmetrically, he said.

LIMA ’17 is the 14th edition of the exhibition and has gathered 520 companies from 35 countries, more than 300 defence and security delegations, 55 visiting warships and boats, and 106 aircrafts from around the world.