RI, Malaysian police boost cooperation
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
North Sumatra and Aceh police signed on Friday an agreement with their counterparts from the Malaysian states of Kedang, Perak and Penang on how to deal with the increasing threats of terrorism, weapons smuggling and human trafficking in their respective territories.
They, however, failed to reach an agreement on how to deal with narcotics-related crimes. They agreed to discuss the issue at their next meeting in April.
Chief of Penang police Datuk Abu Kasim bin Mochnor said they had agreed to apply new technology to help each other capture those involved in terrorist, weapons smuggling and human trafficking activities.
"It is hoped that by using the latest technology, police from both countries can capture the suspects quickly," Abu Kasim said after signing the agreement here on Friday.
He added that with the bilateral agreement, Malaysian police could be contacted via the radio or facsimile to help Indonesian police capture fugitives entering Malaysian territory.
Based on information from the Indonesian police, the Malaysian police would arrest the fugitive and hand them over to Indonesian authorities.
Indonesia and Malaysia have come under the international spotlight following the deadly Bali bombing on Oct. 12 that killed over 190 people and injured some 300 others.
Some terrorist suspects were Indonesians who had lived for some time in Malaysia to discuss the planning of what they called "the Islamic State" encompassing parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Abu Kasim emphasized that any crime that takes place in Malaysian territory would be processed in accordance with Malaysian laws.
"If Indonesian citizens commit crimes in Malaysia, they will be processed under Malaysian laws," Abu Kasim added.
During the meeting, the delegates from Indonesia and Malaysia failed to reach an agreement on the issue of narcotics. Abu Kasim did not elaborate, but said that the issue would be discussed when they met in Ipoh, Malaysia, in April 2003.
"We have reached an agreement to boost cooperation between Indonesian and Malaysian police," Abu Kasim said.
The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier meeting in Penang, Malaysia, on Sept. 26.
The Indonesian delegation was comprised of 17 police personnel from Aceh and North Sumatra, and four personnel from the national police headquarters, while Malaysia sent eight personnel from Kedah, Perak and Penang.
North Sumatra deputy police chief Brig. Gen. Maman Supratman said that both sides had agreed to organize routine meetings and to improve cooperation to deal with crimes taking place in both countries.