MELAKA: The 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and related meetings wrapped up today, with Asean reaffirming its collective commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation against increasingly complex criminal threats.
The Home Ministry, as chair, led the five-day meeting from Monday, bringing together Asean ministers, senior officials, and dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, and South Korea, to review past achievements and endorse a new framework for future cooperation.
The meeting’s main agenda was the adoption of the Asean Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime 2026-2035, which will serve as a roadmap for tackling cross-border crime over the next decade.
The new action plan replaces the Asean Plan of Action 2016-2025, which concludes at the end of this year, marking an important transition in Asean’s security cooperation framework.
One of the key initiatives approved was the creation of the Asean Senior Official Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Money Laundering, aimed at bolstering efforts to combat financial crime.
The ministers also adopted the Asean Border Management Cooperation Roadmap to enhance cross-sector collaboration on immigration and border management.
Another key milestone was the Melaka Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime, underscoring the historic city’s role in advancing Asean’s security agenda.
In addition, three Asean Leaders’ declarations were endorsed, focusing on anti-money laundering, cooperation in apprehending wanted criminals, and using sports as a tool to counter violent extremism.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the three declarations will be brought to the 47th Asean Summit next month.
The meeting also 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) through 2026.
Both documents will remain key Asean frameworks for preventing radicalisation and coordinating multi-sector and cross-border efforts against violent extremism.
The meeting also acknowledged Timor-Leste’s progress toward full Asean membership, including its efforts to join the Asean Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT) and the Asean Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).
Asean voiced full support for Timor-Leste’s accession, expected to be finalised at next month’s summit.
The meeting also featured presentations from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and tech firm META, which discussed legal challenges, regional cooperation, and digital threats in tackling transnational crime.
On the final day, Asean held talks with its dialogue partners, China, Japan, and South Korea, under the AMMTC+3 framework, with a focus on cybercrime and online fraud.
The discussions underscored the importance of law enforcement, information sharing, regional capacity building, and readiness in tackling emerging threats, culminating in a joint statement that reinforces concrete actions for Asean and its dialogue partners.
The meeting concluded with a symbolic handover of the AMMTC chairmanship to the Philippines to host next year’s sessions.
– Bernama
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
