PM Anwar to Open 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Melaka

MELAKA, Sept 9 (VoM): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) here today, underscoring Malaysia’s commitment to regional security and cooperation against cross-border crime.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 4.30 pm, where the Prime Minister will deliver his keynote address. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is chairing AMMTC 2025, will also deliver remarks.

The high-level meeting, held at a hotel in Melaka, brings together ministers and senior officials from ASEAN member states, along with representatives from Timor-Leste and dialogue partners China, Japan, and South Korea.

Today’s program will feature preparatory sessions and consultations with dialogue partners aimed at fine-tuning discussion points ahead of the plenary.

On Sept 4, Saifuddin described AMMTC as more than just a series of ministerial meetings. He said it is a “strategic platform” that enables ASEAN ministers to coordinate and reinforce cooperation against increasingly complex transnational crimes.

Melaka has become the focal point of regional security discussions this week, as ASEAN security and law enforcement leaders gather from Sept 8 to 12 for the five-day AMMTC and related meetings.

This year’s edition focuses on enhancing collaboration to tackle evolving threats such as human trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, and other transboundary security challenges.

The 19th AMMTC is being held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” reflecting the country’s vision for a safer and more resilient ASEAN community.