MANILA, October 21 – Malaysia has stepped up its push for closer security cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail leading the country’s delegation in four consultation sessions with China, Japan and South Korea on the final day of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Makati, the Philippines.
The four sessions on Wednesday were the 16th AMMTC Plus Three Consultation, the 13th AMMTC Plus China Consultation, the 11th AMMTC Plus Japan Consultation and the 7th AMMTC Plus Republic of Korea (ROK) Consultation, Saifuddin said in a post shared on X on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by photos from the meetings.
At the AMMTC Plus China Consultation, Saifuddin served as co-chair alongside Lyu Wuqin, China’s Assistant Minister of Public Security. “This role is another important opportunity for Malaysia to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and China, particularly in tackling security challenges and cross-border crime,” he said.
According to the minister, all four consultations focused on developments in transnational crime threats, progress in existing cooperation, and efforts to boost enforcement capability through information sharing, operational cooperation and capacity building. Among the threats that received attention were cybercrime and online fraud, drug trafficking, and organised crime that is becoming increasingly complex and crosses national borders.
“I believe that threats which are cross-border in nature require a response that also crosses borders. That is why the close relationship between ASEAN and its dialogue partners must continue to be translated into more effective enforcement cooperation,” Saifuddin said.
“God willing, Malaysia will continue to play an active role in strengthening regional and international security cooperation to ensure peace, stability and the well-being of the people,” he added.
Malaysia’s coordinating role with China
Malaysia’s co-chairmanship of the Plus China session is in line with its role as ASEAN Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China cooperation in combating transnational crime, the Home Ministry said ahead of the meetings, Bernama reported. The ministry added that strategic cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea was crucial to strengthening the preparedness of regional enforcement agencies as the transnational crime landscape continues to evolve.
The groundwork was laid at the Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) on October 19, where Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman led the Malaysian delegation and co-chaired the preparatory session for the 13th AMMTC Plus China Consultation. Lyu, Saifuddin’s co-chair on Wednesday, was appointed assistant minister of public security by China’s State Council in April this year, according to Xinhua.
A packed AMMTC for Malaysia
The 20th AMMTC and its related meetings, hosted by the Philippines as this year’s ASEAN chair, ran from October 20 to 21 with online fraud and scam centres high on the agenda alongside human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and border security. Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla chaired the ministerial meeting.
On Tuesday, Saifuddin delivered Malaysia’s National Statement, urging ASEAN to turn its commitments against transnational crime into concrete action and setting out four national priorities: cybercrime and online fraud, money laundering, border control and people smuggling, and terrorism and extremism. On the sidelines, he also held a bilateral meeting with Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Sufian Haji Sabtu, where both sides agreed to deepen police and security information sharing.
Malaysia also continues to serve as Voluntary Lead Shepherd for the SOMTC Working Group on Money Laundering, which was set up at the 19th AMMTC in Melaka in September 2025. The group held its first meeting in Kuala Lumpur on April 21, 2026, and its Terms of Reference were adopted at the Makati preparatory meeting on October 19, giving it a framework to coordinate regional efforts against money laundering, the Home Ministry said.
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