Melaka: 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 announced this as one of the key outcomes of his meeting with South Korea’s Vice Minister of Justice Jin Soo Lee during the 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the focus of the cooperation will be on public security issues and agency collaboration. Both nations have agreed to explore untapped areas, particularly in maritime enforcement. South Korea has offered capacity-building training, which Malaysia welcomes. This initiative aims to expand bilateral ties beyond political and economic aspects, moving towards a more substantive cooperation framework through an MoU.

Saifuddin Nasution also noted South Korea’s interest in learning from Malaysia’s experience in tackling drug abuse, especially the shift from conventional to synthetic drugs, which are frequently smuggled via sea routes. Malaysia has been dealing with drug-related challenges for over four decades, and recent reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime emphasize the importance of curbing supply sources. The two countries exchanged experiences on this matter.

The bilateral meeting between Saifuddin and Jin lasted 30 minutes and included key officials such as Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Awang Alik Jeman and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Deputy Director-General Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim. The South Korean delegation featured Director of International Criminal Affairs Jiyeon Lee.

The 19th AMMTC is being held in Melaka, gathering ASEAN ministers, dialogue partners, and senior security officials to reinforce efforts in combating transnational crime.