Malaysia propose new co-op on cyber security with Indonesia

Malaysia has called for greater cooperation with Indonesia to combat cyber crimes, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this would involve cooperation between the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Indonesian police.

"Cyber crime is a new challenge in the security field and it is closely related with commercial crimes such as money laundering, breach of trust and tax evasion," he said here today.

Ahmad Zahid is here for a three-day visit to Indonesia after being appointed as the new Home Minister back home.

During his visit, Ahmad Zahid also met with Indonesian Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo yesterday where they discussed efforts to strengthen cooperation between the police of both countries in facing the challenges of the new millenium.

Today, he had met his counterpart Gamawan Fauzi and Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and had asked the Indonesian police to share its database on manpower with PDRM and the Malaysian Immigration Department.

"This is to facilitate review of manpower candidates personal details who come to Malaysia to find a job," he said.

Apart from that, he said both countries would enhance cooperation in the matter of drug smuggling.

"Malaysia which has a problem as a transit point of drug smuggling from Iran especially via the KL International Airport (KLIA), will share information with Indonesian police to combat drug smuggling in this region," he said.

The cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia was significant in addressing new forms of crimes such as cross-boundary crime that has become more sophisticated and required effective prevention and early detection measures, he said.