A comprehensive benchmark for the effectiveness of policies, strategies, and the implementation of security management in the country in currently being developed by the National Security Council (MKN) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

Called the National Security Index (IKK), it is set to be introduced year end, revealed MKN director-general Datuk Rodzi Md Saad.

Rodzi told Bernama that the index will serve as a guide and benchmark for foreign countries to decide on investing or holding any programmes in the country.

“In Malaysia, we are always unable to answer specifically (on the level of security), what we have is the ‘Global Peace Index’. It is prepared by another country. Sometimes we disagree with the rating they give us. We also don’t know what variables they use.”

He added that this is detrimental to the country because some countries make decisions on it.

“So, when the United States releases an index, and our index is low, it causes some countries to impose travel restrictions (to Malaysia on their citizens). This is detrimental to us,” he said.