KUALA LUMPUR: The government is mulling a programme to bring together universities and defence institutes from Southeast Asia to hold activities during Malaysia's Asean chairmanship next year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the programme could be held during the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting chaired by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin next year.
"Perhaps alongside the defence ministers' meeting, we can organise a programme between universities or defence institutions to offer (students) valuable exposure.
"We may invite one or two defence ministers to this university for engagement," he said during the Temu Anwar Dialogue programme at the National Defence University of Malaysia here.
Anwar was responding to a question by moderator Dr Jessica Ong about opportunities for university students to be part of Malaysia's Asean chairmanship.
He said there were high expectations for Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, with several major meetings scheduled next year, including the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit.
Malaysia will assume the Asean chairmanship on Jan 1.