Malaysia wishes to produce more armament in the future to reduce its dependency on foreign imports, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said here Monday.

The Malaysian government has a dream of creating a defense industry with high capacities in the weaponry and maintenance sector, said Najib, who is also the defense minister.

Najib, however, was quick to add the government was realistic in realizing its dream within the nation's capability.

"If for instance, we want to manufacture fighter jets, certainly it is beyond our means and reach. But what we can do is, we must take into account the elements of viability," Najib was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The government will provide local companies capable of producing armaments with opportunities to develop the defense industry more systematically, Najib said when replying to a question at a parliament meeting here.

"For this purpose, defense companies are encouraged to invest in technology-intensive sectors and in research and development as well as collaborate with government agencies such as the Institute of Science and Technology in Defense Research," he said.

Malaysia's national defense development will not be a threat to western nations as the capability of the local defense ministry was currently more geared toward installation, production of basic equipment, supervision, maintenance and overhaul, added Najib.

Source: Xinhua