Drugs, cybercrime, human trafficking among key focus at AIPACODD 2025
KUANTAN: Drug issues, cybercrime, and human trafficking will be the three key areas covered at the 8th Meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) 2025, to be held here.
AIPA President and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the meeting will gather ASEAN delegates to exchange views and expertise in tackling these transnational crimes.
'AIPACODD has two main objectives: to foster consensus among ASEAN nations in formulating common policies, and to generate fresh ideas, especially on cybercrime and human trafficking, where we need fresh ideas that require legal input and proposals from member countries,' he said.
Johari was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, themed 'Uniting Parliaments for an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN in Addressing Contemporary Drug Challenges.'
He added that the meeting's outcomes will be forwarded to the Parliamentary Select Committee for deliberation before any proposals are tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
'We will also bring the outcomes of this meeting to the ASEAN Secretariat if they involve administrative matters that require its action, such as drug-related issues, for quicker response and implementation,' he said.
The AIPACODD meeting began today and will continue tomorrow with deliberations and the adoption of the official resolution
It will be followed by a closing ceremony and a speech of appreciation by the representative of the Philippines, which will host the next session.
Tonight, a royal banquet will be held with the consent of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, symbolising royal support for inter-parliamentary diplomacy in building a safer and more sustainable ASEAN.
In his opening remarks, Johari noted that a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released on May 28 warned of emerging threats facing ASEAN youth from synthetic drug products engineered to evade detection.
'Thai authorities recently seized 1,555 'K pods' containing ketamine and etomidate in vaping products, while etomidate in e-liquids has been detected in multiple member countries, including Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia,' he said.
'These products, with their attractive packaging and perceived 'safer' delivery through vaping, are designed to target younger users who may be unaware of the risks,' he said.
Johari stressed that AIPACODD must evolve to stay relevant, as criminal networks now operate with corporate-like efficiency across illicit sectors.
This transformation must recognise that drug trafficking is deeply intertwined with wider criminal ecosystems, including human trafficking, wildlife smuggling, money laundering and cybercrime, he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
How Asean has kept the peace for over 50 years
Formed in 1967 amid Cold War tensions and regional unrest, Asean was a bold bet on diplomacy. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Southeast Asia is considered one of the world's most peaceful regions today, but that stability didn't happen by chance. Without Asean's quiet diplomacy, the region's economic growth, cross-border mobility and cohesion might never have materialised. But now, as geopolitical tensions mount, the bloc's role in ensuring continued peace among its 10 members is more critical than ever. Born from conflict Asean was formed in 1967 during the height of the Cold War, when Southeast Asia was a hotbed for ideological confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union. The region was scarred by conflict: Vietnam was at war, Cambodia faced the Khmer Rouge, and Malaysia had just emerged from the Malayan Emergency. Even among its five founding members, relations were not always smooth. Indonesia and Malaysia clashed during the confrontation in the early 1960s, while Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965. It was against this backdrop that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration to commit to dialogue and cooperation, later reinforced by the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) manifesto in 1971 and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1976. '(Asean's) importance isn't always obvious, because our governments cooperate well and conduct savvy diplomacy to manage crises and maintain peace and order,' former Asean secretary-general and Singapore ambassador-at-large Ong Keng Yong told FMT. 'Asean cooperation and diplomacy work behind the scenes to advance economic development, political and security stability, and socio-cultural progress,' he pointed out. From poverty to progress Once made up of largely low-income countries, Asean has since become the world's fifth-largest economy with a combined GDP of nearly US$4 trillion, as of 2024. This growth was spurred by regional integration efforts, such as the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta), as well as mobility and connectivity initiatives. Malaysia's 2015 chairmanship marked a milestone with the launch of the Asean Community Vision 2025, a long-term plan to deepen integration across political, economic and social spheres. The Asean Political-Security Community (APSC), launched in 2009, supports cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts, maritime security and cyber threats while upholding Asean's principles of non-alignment and consensus. While Asean is sometimes dismissed as a 'talk shop', Ong said this process is what enables Asean to manage tensions both within and beyond the bloc. 'Asean summits and ministerial meetings, supported by numerous official negotiations, work to sort out differences and explore possibilities for agreement across a wide spectrum of views,' he added. Asean in everyday life Asean's impact also reaches citizens. The 2006 Asean Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption, fully ratified by Singapore in 2018, facilitates visa-free travel between member states. This has spurred tourism, mobility, and cultural exchanges. At the 46th Asean Summit in May, youth delegates highlighted the bloc's growing relevance. 'Because we're so regionally integrated, and we've done so many exchange programmes, awareness of Asean and our values has become a lot more prominent among today's youth,' said Austin Patrick, a delegate from Myanmar. 'We can create shared funds to invest in our startup ecosystem, and by doing so, promote accessibility, not just in the payment space, but also in education and healthcare,' he said. Meanwhile, Michelle Ann Villanueva from the Philippines said Asean has also helped foster social cohesion. 'We love and embrace our diversity,' she said. 'As long as we do it with dignity, honour and values, I think we're doing something great for our community.' Looking ahead: Vision 2045 As major powers compete for influence in Asia, Asean's founding principles — neutrality, dialogue, and cooperation — remain more relevant than ever. These ideals form the backbone of the Asean Community Vision 2045, a strategic plan to guide the region through its next phase of development amid growing uncertainties. Dusit Manapan, an advisor to Thailand's foreign affairs ministry, encourages member states to remain hopeful and united as they navigate this uncertain future. 'We don't have an alternative. We have to stick together and look toward a brighter future,' he said, adding that Asean member states must build on their shared strengths. For the next generation, Asean offers a shared platform to confront challenges such as climate change, inequality and sustainable development — issues that no nation can solve alone.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Cambodia-Thailand border talks drag on
THE country's defence ministry has said that the country's troops haven't withdrawn from a patch of land whose ownership is hotly disputed by neighbouring Thailand, but the declaration also echoed recent statements by both sides seeking a peaceful resolution to their competing border claims. Cambodian and Thai authorities engaged in saber-rattling last week after an armed confrontation at the border on May 28 left one Cambodian soldier dead. The incident, which each side blamed on the other, reportedly took place in a relatively small 'no man's land' constituting territory along their border that both countries claim is theirs. A declaration by the Cambodian defence ministry on Monday had 'No Withdrawal of Troops' as its first principle. It said that 'Cambodian forces have not been withdrawn from any areas under Cambodian sovereignty where they have been stationed for an extended period'. The wording left unclear exactly which positions had been occupied for 'an extended period'. His statement also reaffirmed Cambodia's territorial claims covering not only the spot near Morakot village in Cambodia's north-western province of Preah Vihear where the soldier was killed, but also three other pieces of disputed land. Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha himself on Sunday had painted a slightly different picture, stating that Cambodia and Thai military leaders had met and decided to adjust the military forces of both sides to return to appropriate areas in order to reduce tension. His statement appeared to be in accord with what Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced on Sunday, that both sides had withdrawn their forces to where they had been in 2024. That came after Thailand began shutting or limiting crossing hours at some of the numerous checkpoints along the countries' common border. The tough talk on both sides appeared aimed mostly at drumming up nationalist support among their own domestic audiences. — AP
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
We must move beyond silos for the planet's health
AT the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025, regional leaders adopted 'Asean 2045: Our Shared Future' – a comprehensive vision for the region's development over the next two decades. It is a carefully crafted document that reflects a welcome sense of ambition and confidence. But even as it aspires to build a more 'resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred Asean', it leaves important questions unanswered about the foundations upon which such aspirations rest. Having spent much of my career working on regional and global challenges, and as a firm believer in the importance of international and regional cooperation, I recognise the value of vision-setting. It galvanises collective effort. It signals priorities. It invites us to imagine a future worth striving for. But the real measure of such a vision lies not in its length or elegance, but in its capacity to reckon with complexity, to centre people meaningfully, and to commit to structural change. On these fronts, 'Our Shared Future' offers both promise – and pause. The document's most visible structural feature is its division into four strategic pillars: political-security, economic, sociocultural, and connectivity. While this reflects Asean's established architecture, it is increasingly out of step with the interlinked challenges we face today. Issues such as climate change, pandemic preparedness, digital governance, and rising inequality do not respect institutional boundaries. Yet 'Our Shared Future' gestures only briefly towards integrated, cross-pillar responses – confined to a single, isolated bullet point on 'a green Asean' straddling the economic and sociocultural pillars. Entirely absent is the need for a unified approach that places health and wellbeing at the core of regional prosperity, peace, and the structural transformations essential for long-term security. Planetary health determines the wellbeing of all life in this region, yet this essential relationship is not acknowledged in the document. It outlines aspirations for coordination but offers no mechanisms to deliver it. If Asean is serious about addressing the systems-level threats it identifies, including climate, conflict, and displacement, it must move beyond working in silos. The economic ambitions are clear: to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2045. There is pride in this trajectory, and rightly so. The region's dynamism is a global success story. But the blueprint's economic narrative leans heavily on traditional growth indicators – productivity, integration, scale – without enough interrogation of their sustainability or inclusiveness. Environmental concerns are addressed, but often as secondary considerations. One paragraph on the 'green economy' does not compensate for the lack of clear commitments to decarbonisation, circular economy models, or phasing out fossil fuels. Nor is there an explicit recognition of planetary boundaries. In a region already bearing the brunt of climate impacts, from sea-level rise to extreme heat and biodiversity loss, this is not just a technical omission. It is a strategic gap. Economic planning for 2045 must be built on ecological realism, not market optimism. The document rightly reaffirms Asean's commitment to democracy, good governance, and human rights. These are essential values for any future that seeks to be genuinely people-centred. But as the region continues to navigate complex political dynamics, including the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, it is striking that the vision does not address how Asean will respond when these values are under threat within its own community. Avoiding difficult issues may (arguably) keep the peace, but it erodes Asean's credibility, both at home and abroad. A resilient Asean must live its charter, not just cite it, and must stand for something more than branding in calm times and silence in crises. 'People-centred' is one of the most repeated phrases in the vision – welcome, and long overdue! But the document would be stronger if it showed how people's voices shaped its development or how they will be included in its implementation. There is little indication that Asean's citizens were consulted in any structured way in preparing this vision. Meanwhile, across South-East Asia, people are already building the future – through climate activism, informal care networks, and digital innovation. The 4th Asean Youth Statement reflects this energy, explicitly calling for planetary health to bridge existing divides. But it raises a question: is this vision only the youth's, and why is it missing from the 'Asean 2045 Vision'? Asean's political class must see people not as passive recipients of policy, but as co-creators of regional identity and progress. Without that, 'people-centred' risks becoming a slogan, not a principle. The call to strengthen the Asean Secretariat is, by now, a familiar one. It features in almost every major regional declaration. Yet little progress has been made in translating that sentiment into real investment or reform. If Asean is to deliver on the commitments laid out in this document, it needs an institutional engine that is fit for purpose – analytically robust, politically empowered, and properly resourced by its 10 member states. This is not about bureaucracy. It is about credibility. 'Asean 2045: Our Shared Future' is an important and timely document. It articulates a vision of prosperity and cohesion and reflects a maturing regionalism that many of us who have worked across Asean for years welcome. But it also reflects the challenges of a multilateral system that remains cautious – sometimes excessively so – in confronting hard truths. A shared future cannot be built through declarations alone. It requires difficult conversations, courageous leadership, and deeper engagement with the people whose lives these plans will shape. It demands a willingness to shift power, not merely reassert process. If Asean can rise to this challenge – by investing in institutional reform, embracing ecological stewardship, and engaging its people more directly – it will not only chart a path for itself but could also offer the world a compelling model of regional cooperation fit for our turbulent times. That is a future worth striving for. And one Asean still has time to realise. Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch . The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
