AMMTCF: Malaysia, South Korea Explore Maritime Enforcement Cooperation

MELAKA, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and South Korea today agreed to boost public security cooperation with a focus on maritime enforcement agencies, including exploring a specific memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this area.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was among the three main outcomes of his bilateral meeting with South Korea Vice Minister of Justice Jin Soo Lee following the 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC).

“The focus now should be on public security issues and agency cooperation, and we agreed to explore areas that have not yet been fully tapped, including maritime enforcement.  

“South Korea has offered training in the form of capacity building, and I welcome this proposal,” he told a press conference here today.  

He said both countries also agreed to discuss moving towards a more substantive cooperation framework through an MoU, thereby further strengthening bilateral ties which have previously been centred mainly on political and economic aspects.  

Saifuddin Nasution said South Korea is also interested in learning from Malaysia’s experience in tackling drug abuse, particularly the shift from conventional drugs to synthetic drugs, most of which are smuggled via sea routes.  

“Malaysia has faced drug challenges for over four decades, and based on the latest UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) report, the global strategy is now to curb supply sources. We exchanged experiences with South Korea in this area,” he said.  

Earlier, he held a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Jin, which was also attended by Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, Security Division Secretary Datuk Zulkifli Abidin, International Division Secretary Mohd Azlan Razali, as well as Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Deputy Director-General Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim.  

Besides Jin, the South Korean delegation also included Director of International Criminal Affairs Jiyeon Lee.  

The 19th AMMTC is taking place in Melaka from Sept 8 until tomorrow, bringing together ASEAN ministers, dialogue partners and senior security officials to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational crime.

-- BERNAMA