RI, Malaysian police boost cooperation
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.