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RI, M'sia to jointly tackle transnational crime
The National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police are looking to forge better cooperation in combating transnational crimes, including the influx of undocumented migrants into the countries
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he National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police are looking to forge better cooperation in combating transnational crimes, including the influx of undocumented migrants into the countries.
National Police chief Gen. Sutarman and his Malaysian counterpart Insp. Gen. Tan Sri Khalid Abu
Bakar conveyed their hopes during Khalid's visit to National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.
'We enjoy good G-to-G [government to government] and police to police partnerships in addressing transnational crimes in the region, such as illegal migrants, drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking,' Sutarman said after a closed-door meeting with Khalid.
Khalid agreed and said the partnership with the National Police had played a significant role in maintaining security in both countries.
'I hope this visit will help us tighten and elevate our cooperation in many aspects for the sake of the safety and welfare of our people, [both Indonesian and Malaysian citizens],' he said.
Indonesia and Malaysia have become stepping stones for those seeking asylum in Australia. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there were 7,980 refugees in Indonesia and 189,215 refugees in Malaysia seeking UNHCR assistance in 2012.
Sutarman proposed that Indonesia and Malaysia devise a campaign to discourage undocumented migrants from entering both countries.
'We can launch a campaign in the origin countries of asylum seekers in the Middle East. We can show photos of [boat people] who died in Trenggalek or Ujung Kulon [Indonesian coastal areas]. We need to show these things so people do not enter our region that way and become victims,' he told journalists in a separate interview.
The visit is part of Khalid's tour of ASEAN countries after taking the reins of the Royal Malaysian Police in May last year.
Khalid also spoke about the recent fatal shooting of alleged Indonesian thieves by Malaysian police.
Since last October, the Malaysian Police have gunned down at least seven alleged Indonesian criminals. '[We do not only pursue] Indonesian criminals, but all criminals. Whatever we do is in self-defense and for the protection of officers,' Khalid said.
