Malaysia, China Strengthen Cooperation In Combating Transboundary Crime

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and China are strengthening cooperation in combating transboundary crime due to the expected entry of five million China nationals including tourists and students each year into this country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said there were about three million China nationals in Malaysia at the moment as tourists, students or workers, while some had entered this country illegally.

"Therefore, a detailed discussion will be held between the Immigration authorities of the two countries, focusing on the visa arrangement in finding a mechanism to address the issue," he said after chairing the first meeting of the Malaysia-China working group to combat transnational crime, here, Monday.

Also present at the meeting was Hishammuddin's counterpart, China's Public Security Minister Meng Jianzu, who arrived here Sunday for a three-day working visit to Malaysia.

The formation of the working group had been agreed upon through a cooperation agreement signed together with Meng on Aug 2 this year in Beijing, China to fight the crime.

Through the agreement, Malaysia and China will focus on efforts to combat transboundary crime including terrorism, cyber crime, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, drug trafficking and economic crime, as well as on border control and public order.

He said the signing of the agreement was an apt move as the status of China's nationals in Malaysia had often been doubted.

"The signing of the cooperation agreement also shows Malaysia's continuous commitment to establishing close cooperation with foreign enforcement agencies in fighting transboundary crime, which is on the rise."

The agreement with China is the fourth security cooperation document signed by Malaysia with its strategic partners after Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and United States.

Today's meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the enforcement agencies of the two countries, sharing of information and intelligence, conducting joint investigations and sharing of findings, exchange visits by personnel and repatriation of suspects.