PUTRAJAYA – As part of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) is proudly fulfilling its responsibility to lead the regional security agenda, driving forward strategic initiatives to combat transnational crime and deepen ASEAN cooperation.

In a strong start to the year, MOHA hosted several high-impact meetings addressing critical cross-border threats. The first of these was the 3rd SOMTC Working Group Meeting on General Transnational Crime Matters, held on 4 February 2025 in Johor Bahru. At the meeting, the SOMTC priority areas were reviewed, and the establishment of a SOMTC Working Group on Money Laundering was proposed — a bold step to strengthen regional efforts against financial crimes.

Momentum continued in Penang, where MOHA convened back-to-back engagements on 18 and 19 February 2025: the 39th Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of Specialist Anti-Trafficking Units (HSU) and the inaugural SOMTC Working Group Meeting on People Smuggling. These platforms provided opportunities for ASEAN Member States to exchange intelligence, share best practices, and align regional strategies in tackling human trafficking and people smuggling.

As Chair of ASEAN 2025, Malaysia — through MOHA — has been entrusted with leading the development of two major policy documents: the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2026–2035) and the SOMTC Work Programme (2026–2028). In support of this effort, an Ad Hoc SOMTC Working Group Meeting on the Draft ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2026–2035) was held from 14 to 16 May 2025. Both documents will be discussed at the upcoming 25th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) in Putrajaya and are expected to shape the next decade of ASEAN’s crime prevention agenda.

This effort underscores ASEAN’s commitment to inclusive and security-oriented integration. Through these initiatives, MOHA is not only reinforcing Malaysia’s commitment to regional peace and security but also affirming the country’s role as a driving force behind a safer, more resilient ASEAN.

This content is provided by Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia (MOHA)

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