KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Asean is expected to soon have a treaty that enables extradition among its member states, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan indicated today.
In his opening remarks at the 30th Asean Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, Mohamad said South-east Asian countries were working together to tackle crimes that occur across their borders.
“Meanwhile, the long-awaited Asean Extradition Treaty is also at its final stage of completion, and is expected to be signed next month,” he said in his speech here.
In May 2024, the Asean website reported that senior law officials had discussed the extradition treaty, noting that it would “further enhance Asean’s capacity to combat transnational crimes” once concluded.
Mohamad said Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the far-reaching implications of complex security issues that affect citizens’ safety in Asean member countries and pose direct threats to the region’s economic resilience and national security.
He said Asean must strengthen cooperation and coordination among defence, law enforcement, and legal institutions to counter transnational crime.
Mohamad added that Asean had taken innovative steps to tackle links between transnational crime, money laundering, and sophisticated cyber-enabled crimes such as online scams.
These efforts include the establishment of the Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Money Laundering, an initiative led by Malaysia.
He said Asean law ministers have also committed to promoting arbitration and mediation mechanisms to support regional economic integration.
Mohamad said the recently established Asean Prosecutors/Attorneys-General Meeting (APAGM) will further strengthen regional collaboration in the prosecution of transnational crimes.
Other measures in the defence sector include multiple exercises and new initiatives in cyber, maritime, and health security.
He added that Asean’s defence ministers have committed to raising awareness on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in defence and ensuring its responsible use in the military domain.
Mohamad also noted that the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) continues to champion issues such as the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as the right to peace.
He said AICHR had advanced an Asean guideline on the protection of human-trafficking victims, reaffirming Asean’s collective commitment to uphold human dignity and ensure justice and protection for victims.
The guideline will also realign Asean’s practices with international human rights and anti-trafficking standards, he said.
At the 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Melaka on September 10, regional leaders welcomed the establishment of the SOMTC Working Group on Money Laundering, which will meet for the first time next year.
Among other things, the 19th AMMTC adopted declarations on combatting money laundering, cybercrime, and online scams in the region.
