PUTRAJAYA: Combating transnational and cyber crimes will be the key focus for the Home Ministry throughout Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean this year, says minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said that the country’s chairmanship had established several clusters, with the Home Ministry actively participating in the security cluster.
“One of our primary focal points is transnational crime, which we approach from three key angles – intelligence sharing, capacity building and joint operations,” he told a press conference after attending the Home Ministry’s monthly meeting here yesterday.
Saifuddin Nasution said when dealing with transnational crime, Asean recognises that no single country can tackle these issues alone.
“Effective cooperation is essential and our partnerships take many forms, but these three areas are the most critical,” he stressed.
Another key focus area is cybercrime, including online fraud and other digital offences, he added.
According to Saifuddin Nasution, the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Security, scheduled for September, will be held in Melaka.
“Before the ministerial meeting, preliminary discussions at the senior officer level will take place, focusing on the key agendas,” he added.
He also noted that the rapid rise in cybercrime is not only a national or regional issue but a global concern.
“Given this escalating trend, Asean’s security cluster discussions would be incomplete without addressing cybercrime as a top priority,” Saifuddin Nasution said.
