Kuala lumpur: Cooperation between governments and enforcement agencies must move faster and be stronger than transnational crime networks to address security threats effectively, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He highlighted that criminals now operate across multiple jurisdictions by leveraging international networks, which necessitates nations to bolster information sharing, operational coordination, and joint action.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution delivered a speech at the 2026 Conference of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, China. He emphasized that in an increasingly interconnected world, no single nation can manage today's security threats alone. He shared a recent incident of a Malaysian co-pilot's arrest at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for suspected drug smuggling worth RM45 million, demonstrating the transnational nature of modern crime.
Saifuddin Nasution noted that the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) shared intelligence with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), leading to the arrest of six syndicate members in Malaysia, including four who had escaped to Thailand and Vietnam. This example underscores how crime syndicates often operate across countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
He pointed out that security threats are becoming more complex, involving issues such as violence, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, narcotics, cybercrime, online scams, and money laundering. These crimes exploit cross-border networks, financial systems, and digital infrastructure. Technologies like artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, and cryptocurrencies are also used by criminals to mask identities and transfer illicit funds.
Saifuddin Nasution stressed that crime knows no borders, and similarly, responses should not be confined by national boundaries. Malaysia is committed to strengthening cooperation with China through the Agreement on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime, signed in June 2024. This agreement provides a robust foundation for collaborative efforts, including information sharing and operational coordination.
He highlighted the urgency of this issue, noting that Malaysia investigated 141,107 online scam cases between 2024 and May 2026. In narcotics enforcement, cooperation and intelligence sharing with China facilitated two operations in August 2025, leading to the seizure of over one tonne of Fentanyl Citrate in Malaysia.
Saifuddin Nasution emphasized that bilateral cooperation should enhance regional security, supported by initiatives Malaysia led as ASEAN Chairman in 2025. These initiatives included the ASEAN Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime 2026-2035, Melaka Declaration on Combatting Transnational Crime, ASEAN Declaration on Countering People Smuggling, and ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Cybercrime and Online Scams, alongside the ASEAN Border Management Cooperation Roadmap.
He concluded by asserting Malaysia's commitment to being a constructive and reliable security partner with China, ASEAN member states, and the international community. On the topic of technology, Saifuddin Nasution said advancements should be leveraged to strengthen security institutions that are professional, accountable, and trusted, rather than simply pursuing technological sophistication.
Ultimately, he stated that by sharing information, building trust, and acting together, nations can reduce the operational space for criminal syndicates, ensuring that cooperation makes it harder for criminals to succeed.