Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Joseph Leong Visits Malaysia and Co-Chairs the 63rd FPDA Consultative Council Meeting

Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Joseph Leong was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 3 August 2026 for his introductory visit, where he called on Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Director-General of Malaysia's National Security Council Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin. During the meetings, Dato' Seri Khaled and Raja Dato' Nushirwan reaffirmed the warm and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Malaysia. They also discussed regional geopolitical developments and avenues to deepen cooperation.

Mr Leong also visited Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from 4 to 5 August 2026 to co-chair the 63rd Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Consultative Council (FCC), which is the pinnacle policymaking FPDA forum, alongside Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali. During the meeting, all member-nations reaffirmed the strategic importance of the FPDA, and its continued relevance as a constructive, transparent, and peaceful defence arrangement in the region. Member-nations also had fruitful discussions on ways to keep the FPDA relevant, and to continually enhance the professional value of FPDA exercises.

On the sidelines of the FCC, the Malaysian Ministry of Defence also hosted Mr Leong and the Singaporean delegation to the Defence Professional Programme (DPP). The biannual DPP is alternately hosted by Malaysia and Singapore, and is a valuable opportunity to deepen people-to-people ties and exchange professional views.

Mr Leong's visit underscores the close and multifaceted defence relationship between Singapore and Malaysia, and the mutual commitment towards nurturing strong personal and institutional ties both bilaterally and multilaterally.