Indonesia Urges UK to Strengthen Handling of Online Scams in ASEAN

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has invited the British government to help ASEAN member states handle and eradicate online scams. At the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday (22/7), Sugiono noted that nearly two out of three adults in the Southeast Asian region are targeted by online scam crimes. Total losses from these criminal activities could reach US$23.6 billion (approximately Rp423 trillion) in a single year. “These scams may indeed originate here (in the Southeast Asian region). However, the money moves across national borders, through the global financial system and various financial centres; and what can be moved, can certainly be traced,” said Sugiono. “This is the standard proposed by Indonesia, cooperation whose benefits can truly be felt directly by our people,” he said. Beyond handling online scams, Sugiono also invited the UK to increase cooperation in the energy transition sector. He encouraged the development of equitable access to clean energy for all communities, including those in remote areas, through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund initiative. In addition, Indonesia also supports strengthening collaboration in human resources through the ASEAN-UK Chevening Scholarships. The UK has been an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 2021. Also present at the high-level meeting in Manila was the newly appointed British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who was sworn in on Monday (20/7) alongside the new British government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Previously, in PM Keir Starmer’s cabinet, Miliband served as the minister for energy security and climate.