ASEAN Countries Adopt Kuala Lumpur Declaration In Combating Transnational Crime

KUALA LUMPUR: The 10 ASEAN member countries today reiterated their commitments to cooperate closely with one another, to combat new and traditional areas of transnational crimes.

Through the Kuala Lumpur Declaration in Combating Transnational Crime at the end of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), they acknowledged the emergence of new forms of transnational crimes, as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including those closely-linked to the issue or irregular movement of persons.

The steps to be taken through the declaration, among others, were to convene the AMMTC on annual basis for regular consultations due to the rapid progress and evolution of the issue.

They also endorsed the illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber, and also people smuggling as the new areas of transnational crimes, supported the work towards the elevation of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters, as well as to support the work of the ASEAN Law Ministers' Meeting to enhance cooperation on the issue of extradition.

Earlier, the signing ceremony of the declaration was done by ministers and heads of delegates from the 10 countries, where Malaysia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister.

Ahmad Zahid later handed the declaration to ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Hirubalan Velupilla Ponnudura as a symbol that ASEAN members had ratified the document.

They also agreed to preserve ASEAN's central role and the region's interest in appropriation to regional frameworks and mechanisms, as well as expand the scope of each responsibility, when necessary.

Meanwhile, through the declaration, ASEAN will also encourage ratification of existing international legal instruments in combating transnational crimes, and encourage the effective implementation of the relevant provisions on transnational crimes identified in the post-2015 ASEAN Political-Security Council.

They will also strengthen the capacity of the criminal justice system, including judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials within ASEAN and with the relevant regional and international organisations.

Also listed in the declaration was the readiness by all members to collaborate and implement effective information with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, media and civil society.

According to the secretariat's statement, the signed Kuala Lumpur Declaration in Combating Transnational Crime will reflect renewed and continuous commitments by ASEAN to deal with the issue.

The last time a similar kind of document was ratified was the ASEAN Declaration on Transnational Crime adopted in December 1997 in Manila, the Philippines.

The 10th AMMTC and its related meetings entered its final round today, before proceeding with the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (SAMMRRAVE) tomorrow.

The four-day biennial AMMTC was officiated by Ahmad Zahid on Tuesday. The SAMMRRAVE tomorrow, among others, will focus on issues relating to radicalism and extremism in the region.

-- BERNAMA