MIGRATION ISSUES TO BE TACKLED
We will share intelligence, says DPM
CANBERRA
MALAYSIA and Australia will share intelligence to tackle immigration issues, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said this would enable both countries to respond speedily to any issues.
“We will share intelligence on illegal immigrants in Australia who used Malaysia as a transit point. This information will be very useful for follow-up action,” Zahid said here yesterday.
Earlier, Zahid paid a courtesy call on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Parliament House.
He also met his Australian counterpart Barnaby Joyce, Immigration and Border Security Minister Peter Dutton, Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
“We want to arrive at an action plan to resolve this problem (illegal immigration) at the source country. We do not want the country concerned to wash its hands off (of tackling the issue),” Zahid said.
He said in his meeting with Australian leaders, a proposal to hold an international conference on immigrants was discussed.
He said Malaysia and Australia had agreed and supported the plan to hold such a conference, proposed by the United Kingdom and tentatively set to be held there.
Zahid said he and Turnbull also discussed deradicalisation, counterterrorism and cross-border crimes, as well as the need to share information on policies implemented in Malaysia.
Zahid is here on a three-day working visit.
His next stop will be Sydney, where he will meet New South Wales Governor David Hurley. Bernama