Southeast Asian nations strengthen border and maritime security cooperation

Malaysia and Thailand are strengthening border security through government-to-government (G2G) and police-to-police (P2P) mechanisms to combat cross-border crime. Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that the G2G cooperation is managed via the Malaysia-Thailand Border Security Management Committee, which meets twice a year. The P2P cooperation involves police forces from Perlis, Kedah, and Kelantan, focusing on intelligence sharing, capacity building, and joint operations.

In a separate maritime security effort, Indonesia's Bakamla, Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), and the Singapore Police Coast Guard (SPCG) conducted trilateral exercises in the Riau Islands. Known as INSIMA, this cooperation involves approximately 60 personnel and includes high-level meetings and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) training to enhance maritime safety and coordination in the three-country border region.