BEIJING: Malaysia is looking to deepen cooperation with China to combat cyber fraud, strengthen cross-border investigations and recover stolen assets as both countries step up efforts to tackle trans-national crime, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said closer bilateral cooperation would give practical effect to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in security and law enforcement.
"Cyberfraud presents several challenges because it does not affect China alone. Chinese nationals are among its victims and I believe bilateral cooperation between our two countries is crucial in tackling this problem," he told a press conference here on Tuesday (Oct 13).
Ahmad Zahid is on a five-day working visit to Beijing and Tianjin to deepen bilateral ties in areas including security, law enforcement and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia and China were strengthening intelligence-sharing and coordinating investigations and law enforcement operations to tackle cross-border crime.
He said both countries had established a joint security committee that also focused on anti-narcotics cooperation.
"Cooperation between our police and China's National Narcotics Control Commission is very close.
"Beyond intelligence-sharing and enforcement, we are adopting newer methods to obtain early information on drug smuggling operations and the setting up of facilities to process substances into drugs.
"This work is already under way and will be strengthened further," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had held several discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the matter.
"The Malaysian government, through the Drug Prevention Committee that I chair, believes these efforts must be carried out across borders. We have made good progress in this regard," he said.
On cyberfraud, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had participated in a joint programme under the International Alliance to Combat Telecom and Cyber Fraud on Sept 10, with cross-border investigations and the recovery of stolen assets identified as key priorities.
He also highlighted Malaysia's efforts to strengthen its legal framework to tackle cybercrime, saying he had personally tabled a Cyber Crime Bill in the Dewan Rakyat during the parliamentary sitting in July.
