18/09/2025

THURSDAY | SEPT 18, 2025

5 Cybercrime primary security concern for Asean

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Cybercrime has overtaken piracy as Asean’s primary security concern, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail after chairing the 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Malacca last week. “Once, the focus was sea piracy. Today, the most dangerous threats come from the digital sphere (such as) online scams and money laundering. “These crimes have no borders and no ethnicity. Victims could be anyone, from small business owners to students.” The three-day meeting saw Asean unanimously adopt the Transnational Crime Action Plan 2026-2035, setting the region’s roadmap for the next decade. Malaysia also tabled a proposal to form a Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime Working Group on Money Laundering, which would meet for the first

o Scourge does not have borders or distinction between victims, says home minister

At Saifuddin Nasution symbolically handed over the AMMTC chairman’s headgear to the Philippines, which would host the next round. He said Malaysia’s chairmanship had been marked by “tangible results”, from declarations to action plans that would steer Asean’s security response for years. “Asean may differ in views at times but on security, we always seek common ground. That is our strength. the closing,

from online scams exceeded US$1 trillion (RM4.3 trillion) annually. “This is not just a statistic, it is a warning that without action, more (individuals) would fall prey.” Under the Asean Plus Three framework, member states also had discussions with China, Japan and South Korea on how artificial intelligence, big data analytics and real-time information sharing could sharpen law enforcement cooperation. On narcotics, the meeting flagged the escalating threat of synthetic drugs as one of the region’s most pressing security challenges.

Combating

Cybercrime

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time off the financial pipelines fuelling transnational crime. Three declarations were endorsed at the meeting: 0 the Melaka Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime, which anchors Malaysia’s chairmanship; 0 the Asean Declaration on Countering People Smuggling; and 0 the Asean Declaration on in 2026 to cut

Online Scams. Three more declarations would be tabled at the Asean Summit in October. Saifuddin Nasution said data from international partners underscored the urgency of action. “The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and Meta revealed that global losses

“Today, (we) stand as one of the world’s most stable regions. Malaysia will continue to lead, ensuring our people are protected from emerging and complex threats.” Court hears new details on Zara Qairina case KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner’s Court has heard fresh details surrounding the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, including her mother’s refusal of a post-mortem and the discovery of the teenager’s personal diaries. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Forensic Medicine Department medical officer Dr Logaraj Ratha testified that he explained several times to Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, the importance of a medico-legal post-mortem before, during and after she signed a formal refusal form. “All the details in the form were filled in by the victim’s mother and I was with her throughout the process,” he said, adding that the declaration, titled “Surat Akuan Enggan Bedah Siasat Mayat Atas Kemahuan Sendiri”, was witnessed by Noraidah’s sister-in-law, Nur Shira Abdullah and countersigned by him. Logaraj said Noraidah was told that although police did not issue a POL 61 order (post-mortem order), a clinical autopsy could still be done with family consent. “I explained that without a post-mortem, the family would not obtain an official forensic report on the cause of death or (be able to) file any related claims. However, she still decided not to proceed,” he told DPP Mohd Fairuz Johari. He added that investigating officer Insp Wong Yew Zhung later informed him the body could be released without a post-mortem, citing the cause of death as severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Zara Qairina died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after being found unconscious at her school hostel in Papar. In a separate testimony, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha head warden Azhari Abd Sagap, 31, told the court that three diaries, two exercise books and 15 pages of handwritten entries belonging to Zara Qairina were discovered in stages before being handed to police. The first discovery was on July 16 when a teacher found two diaries in her locker. The following day, another diary and an exercise book were found. On July 19, 15 pages of handwritten entries were found in her classroom bookshelf, along with two exercise books. Azhari said all items were surrendered to police as part of the inquest into the teenager’s death. – Bernama

Mohd Khalid (second from right) gesturing towards a number of items seized during the special integrated operation. – BERNAMAPIC

Cops seize drugs worth RM598m, bust Klang Valley syndicate KUALA LUMPUR: Police crippled a drug syndicate processing and distributing ecstasy, or MDMA, worth RM598.9 million in a series of raids in the Klang Valley on Sept 10. chemist, assistant and a transporter,” Mohd Khalid said at a press conference at the Police Training Centre yesterday. chemical liquid weighing a total of 947.35kg, plus a container and two plastic bags of unidentified powder weighing 52.4kg.

jacksoni ) was found in a (vehicle) at Felda Tenggaroh in Mersing on Tuesday. “The carcass had injuries believed to be from a trap and there were six gunshot wounds to the head.” Ling added that the authorities also seized several items as evidence with a total estimated value of RM294,000, adding that the suspects were remanded under Section 70(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). – Bernama A third raid at a house in Dataran Templer resulted in the arrest of another suspect, although no drugs were found. Investigations showed the syndicate had been active since July, using rented industrial premises as illegal laboratories to supply local and overseas markets. The case is being probed under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Assets worth RM336,224 were also seized under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, including six vehicles and RM2,000 cash.

public to continue to work together with the government by reporting any information related to illegal hunting to the authorities. “The state government appreciates the cooperation of the Bukit Aman Federal Reserve Unit and the Wildlife and National Parks Department through Operation Khazanah Bersepadu, which led to the arrest of three men, aged 28 to 29. “The three suspects were arrested after the carcass of a Malayan tiger ( panthera tigris The first raid at the Kepong Industrial Park led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 136 drums and a container of suspected MDMA liquid weighing a total of 3,330kg, plus 563 glass bottles containing 1,200kg of chemical liquid. Police also found eight drums and six bags of chemical powder weighing a total of 213.7kg, along with drug-processing equipment, Bernama reported. Another raid at the same premises uncovered 41 drums and two glass bottles of

IGP Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said 3,586.45kg of drugs were seized, the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department’s biggest haul this year. The special integrated operation, codenamed “Op Pine”, was conducted based on intelligence and monitoring between 8am and 11am at three locations in Kepong and Dataran Templer in Selayang. Four local men, aged 34 to 51, were arrested. “They had specific roles – a coordinator,

Johor vows to strengthen law on wildlife poaching JOHOR BAHRU: The state government said there would be no compromise on tiger poaching activities that threaten the sustainability of the Malayan tiger.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said Johor would strengthen law enforcement and enhance intelligence and monitoring in areas identified as high-risk to combat poaching and the wildlife trade. He said the committee would urge the