ASEAN nations should work together to tackle cross-border crime, said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Defence Services Asia Exhibition & Conference 2016 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
“We must work in tandem with neighbours and friends beyond national boundaries and across continents, for we are faced with new security threats that recognise no borders”, he stated.
The PM urged all ASEAN member states to maintain stability in the region, adding that regional destablisation will allow the Islamic State (IS) to establish a foothold in Southeast Asia.
He said that two Malaysia-registered oil tankers attacked by pirates last June which were located by working together with neighbouring countries indicated the need for ASEAN to step up inter-agency cooperation.
Joint anti-piracy patrols in the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand were also an example, he noted. It is vital for the initiative to be expanded to sea routes in the region to combat maritime security threats.
