Saifuddin Nasution urges Asean to translate anti-crime pledges into results

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 20 — Head of Malaysia's Home Ministry, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to convert its anti-crime commitments into tangible results, particularly in combating online fraud, money laundering, and human smuggling. The effectiveness of enforcement actions should be the key indicator of the success of regional security cooperation, not merely the number of agreements signed.

The evolving threat of transnational crime due to digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) demands a swifter, more integrated response from Asean member states. Malaysia is committed to this cause, as expressed at the 20th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Manila. To strengthen cooperation, Malaysia has identified three key priorities: faster cross-border actions against online fraud and illicit financial flows, improved investigative capabilities, and better collaboration between member states and international partners.

With the proceeds of crime moving across borders in minutes while legal processes are often slower, regional cooperation must prioritize detecting illicit funds, safeguarding digital evidence, and coordinating investigations to prevent criminal networks from exploiting jurisdictional gaps. As Malaysia prepares to chair Asean in 2025, it has established a solid foundation with the Asean Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2026-2035) and the Melaka Declaration, further supported by the Work Programme of the Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) for 2026-2028.

The primary challenge now is ensuring these frameworks translate into concrete actions. In the meantime, Malaysia pledges to continue its role as a voluntary lead country in Asean, focusing on strengthening information exchange, capacity building, and enforcement cooperation in the fight against money laundering and human trafficking.

Malaysia also recently launched the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) and enhanced its cyber-legal framework with the passage of the Cybercrime Bill 2026, while bolstering border security through the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency. The country's broader efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism are guided by the MyPCVE 2024-2028 plan.