MELAKA: Asean today marked a significant milestone as secretary-general and ministers gathered for the 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) here.
In a statement on Wednesday (September 10), the Home Ministry said the meeting reached a consensus to further strengthen regional security cooperation, reflecting a shared determination to confront emerging cross-border threats.
Chaired by Malaysia, the session witnessed the adoption of the Asean Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime (2026–2035), a landmark document that will guide the region’s response to transnational crime over the next decade.
The plan signals the bloc’s collective resolve to adapt to an increasingly complex threat landscape.
The meeting also endorsed a new working group under the Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) focusing on anti–money laundering initiatives, seen as a key step in tightening the region’s financial crime defences.
Equally important was the approval of the Asean Border Management Cooperation Roadmap, designed to improve cross-sector collaboration on immigration and border control.
Several high-profile declarations were announced, including the Melaka Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime and new Asean commitments on tackling human trafficking, cybercrime and online fraud.
Ministers also endorsed three Asean Leaders’ Declarations, aimed at curbing money laundering, strengthening cooperation in tracking fugitives and promoting sport as a tool to build resilience against violent extremism.
The meeting further agreed to extend the Asean Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (2018–2025) and the Bali Work Plan (2019–2025) until 2026, ensuring continuity in efforts to prevent radicalisation and enhance coordinated cross-border responses.
The statement also stated that participants heard insights from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), which shared perspectives on legal frameworks, regional cooperation and the challenges posed by the digital age.
With these achievements, the statement said AMMTC not only reflected on a decade of progress but also opened a new and more comprehensive chapter, underlining the region’s commitment to remain at the forefront in combating transnational crime.
