Long-range radar at Swallow Reef and new drones in Labuan aim to give Malaysia better oversight of its eastern waters

Malaysia is stepping up surveillance on its eastern flank, pushing ahead with plans for a long-range radar at a frontline South China Sea outpost and launching newly operational drones.

The upgrades reflect Kuala Lumpur’s bid to improve its ability to detect threats as the Philippines revives its claim over Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo and Chinese patrols persist near its offshore energy fields.

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Sunday that the radar would be installed on Swallow Reef, known as Pulau Layang-Layang in Malay, to give the armed forces a clearer picture of aircraft movements around the Spratlys.

“From a security perspective, as we all know, we have strengthened our position on Pulau Layang-Layang,” Khaled told reporters after an election campaign launch event in Negeri Sembilan. “We will also install a radar system there so that we have stronger surveillance capabilities.”

The announcement came as Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan disclosed that Malaysia had recently sent a “very strong” diplomatic note to an unnamed country claiming part of Malaysian territory.