KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has strengthened its role in combating transnational crime after being selected as the Voluntary Lead Shepherd of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Money Laundering.
The Home Ministry said that the appointment was agreed upon at the Preparatory SOMTC for the 20th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and Related Meetings in Makati, the Philippines.
The Malaysian delegation to the preparatory meeting was led by ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman.
"The meeting aimed to coordinate positions and finalise substantive preparations for the ministerial meetings scheduled for Oct 20 and 21.
"It also adopted the Terms of Reference for the SOMTC Working Group on Money Laundering, with Malaysia serving as the Voluntary Lead Shepherd for this priority area," the ministry said in a statement.
Awang Alik also co-chaired the Preparatory SOMTC for the 13th AMMTC Plus China Consultation, aimed at strengthening Asean-China cooperation in addressing transnational crime threats.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will lead the Malaysian delegation to the two-day 20th AMMTC, which begins today.
The ministry said the meeting, chaired by the Philippines, brings together Asean ministers responsible for security and transnational crime to strengthen regional cooperation against increasingly complex criminal threats.
Besides attending the 20th AMMTC, Saifuddin Nasution is scheduled to participate in four consultations with Asean dialogue partners - the 16th AMMTC Plus Three, 13th AMMTC Plus China, 11th AMMTC Plus Japan and 7th AMMTC Plus Korea.
The ministry said strategic cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea was crucial to strengthening the preparedness of regional enforcement agencies amid an evolving transnational crime landscape.
Malaysia will also co-chair the 13th AMMTC Plus China Consultation, in line with its role as Asean Country Coordinator for Asean-China cooperation in combating transnational crime.
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