Job scams a key issue under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair in 2025, has pledged to take decisive action against transnational job scam syndicates, placing the issue at the forefront of its regional agenda.
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra, in a statement on Friday said it takes the issue of job scam syndicates seriously.
The ministry expressed its sincere appreciation to the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) as well as other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the media, for their continued efforts in drawing attention to the plight of Malaysians who have fallen victim to job scam syndicates across the region.
'Malaysia remains fully committed to working closely with ASEAN counterparts and all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, to strengthen preventive measures, enhance regional collaboration, and ensure protection for all victims,' added the statement.
The Foreign Ministry said it has taken concrete steps to raise the matter with fellow ASEAN Member States, including at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Langkawi in January and the 29th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting held in conjunction with the 46th ASEAN Summit earlier this week.
At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Langkawi in January, ministers reaffirmed their joint commitment to addressing transnational crimes, including people smuggling, trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, and the rising threat of online scams.
During the 29th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, held in conjunction with the 46th ASEAN Summit, Malaysia stressed the urgent need for decisive regional action in tackling cross-border crimes.
As a result, ASEAN ministers agreed to review the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2016-2025) to strengthen regional coordination and ensure that its successor documents address emerging and evolving criminal threats.
In the 46th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders also expressed strong determination to intensify cooperation under the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), with an emphasis on law enforcement collaboration to combat online scams and trafficking in persons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Qatar Temporarily Shuts Airspace Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted The Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer ISTANBUL, June 24 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Qatar shut down its airspace temporarily on Monday evening as tensions in the region continued to escalate, the Foreign Ministry said, Anadolu Ajansi reported. A ministry statement said that the measure was taken to ensure the safety of its citizens, residents, and visitors. 'In light of Qatar's commitment to the safety of all individuals on its territory, the competent authorities have decided to temporarily suspend air navigation in the country's airspace,' the statement said. bootstrap slideshow The ministry emphasised that the decision was part of broader precautionary steps taken in response to evolving regional conditions. According to the statement, Qatari authorities are 'closely and continuously monitoring the situation' and are 'assessing developments in coordination with regional and international partners.' The ministry added that the public will be kept informed of updates through official channels. 'The safety and security of everyone in Qatar remains a top priority,' the ministry said, adding that the Gulf country will not hesitate to implement necessary protective measures. Regional tensions sharply escalated on Sunday after the US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The US attacks were the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.
Rakyat Post
3 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Malaysia Evacuates 24 People From Iran Amid Regional Tensions
Subscribe to our FREE Malaysia has successfully evacuated 24 individuals from Iran, including 17 Malaysian citizens, six Iranian nationals who are dependents of Malaysian citizens, and one Singaporean citizen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The group arrived safely at Kuala Lumpur International Airport via Malaysia Airlines flight MH 781 at 10:50 pm local time on 22 June. The evacuation involved a complex 1,120-kilometre overland journey to the Iran-Turkmenistan border on 21 June, followed by flights from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to Bangkok, Thailand, and then to Malaysia. Global airlines continue avoiding Middle East airspace after US attack on Iran — bne IntelliNews (@bneintellinews) The operation was coordinated by Malaysian embassies in Tehran, Ashgabat and Bangkok. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to Iran, Turkmenistan, and Thailand for their cooperation in facilitating the safe repatriation. The ministry said the evacuation reflects Malaysia's 'continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens' under the Malaysia also assisted citizens of Brunei Darussalam with similar arrangements from Turkmenistan, demonstrating what officials called 'regional solidarity' among ASEAN member states. PRESS RELEASE: EVACUATION OF MALAYSIAN CITIZENS FROM IRAN — Wisma Putra (@MalaysiaMFA) From Gaza to Regional War The evacuation comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the ongoing In recent weeks, direct military exchanges between Iran and Israel have intensified, including missile strikes and retaliatory attacks. The conflict has drawn in various regional actors and raised concerns about the potential for Malaysia Calls for Peace as U.S. Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites, Nations Rush Evacuations Most significantly, the United States conducted Many countries have advised their citizens to leave Iran and the wider region due to security concerns, with several nations conducting similar evacuation operations as diplomatic tensions continue to rise and the risk of further military escalation remains high. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for Anwar emphasised the importance of human rights and justice, stating that Malaysia has the right to advocate for peace amid ongoing conflicts like that between Iran and Israel. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for global pressure on — خبرنگار آزاد (@Af_Journalist) READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia's Evacuation Assistance A Testament To ASEAN Solidarity, Says Singapore FM
By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz SINGAPORE, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's assistance in evacuating a Singaporean from Iran not only reinforces the close and enduring relationship between the two countries, but also serves as a testament to ASEAN solidarity, said Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. In a letter to his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Balakrishnan said the support is also a real-life demonstration of the importance of the ASEAN Guidelines on Consular Assistance for ASEAN Member States to help one another's citizens. bootstrap slideshow 'Hard times reveal true friends. We sincerely appreciate your government's readiness to extend assistance in times of crisis,' he wrote in the letter. A copy of the letter was shared by Balakrishnan on his Facebook page on Monday, where he also stated that he was grateful to the governments of Malaysia and Oman for their invaluable support in safely evacuating Singaporeans from Iran. In the letter, he noted that the swift and professional action taken by Wisma Putra Consular Division and the Malaysian embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat allowed Singapore to operationalise an evacuation plan under difficult circumstances. 'Their prompt assistance, particularly securing the necessary accommodation, transportation, and entry permits into Turkmenistan, was crucial in ensuring the safety of our citizens,' he added. Meanwhile, Balakrishnan also wrote a separate letter to Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi to express his gratitude for Oman's prompt and effective assistance. He said Singapore remains deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and that various mediation efforts, including those by Al-Busaidi, are crucial for de-escalation.
