KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30- Cooperation and defense diplomacy with regional and global countries need to be strengthened.

Deputy Minister of Defense Adly Zahari said this is to ensure aspects of national defense and security can continue to be preserved.

Such cooperative efforts refer to discussions on a global scale which include engaging in negotiations with other countries.

"We know that defense does not only refer to us but it is also related to external challenges in particular, such as the South China Sea issue. Even though we think it is safe in general compared to maybe other areas and oceans.

But we should not take it lightly because we have to prepare enough defense and engage in defense diplomacy. This is very important because through diplomacy we can solve many issues," said Adly to a reporter today.

He added that a large allocation has already been given to the national defense sector to ensure the improvement in the defense industry’s capabilities, apart from ensuring that the readiness of all the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM)’s branches is at its highest level.

He said this after appearing as a guest for Selamat Pagi Malaysia Programme in Kota Media’s Angkasapuri.