Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines appoint POC for intelligence exchanges

TENOM: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has announced the initiative for each country to appoint their Point of Contact (POC) from military and police personnel to facilitate the exchange of intelligence information on security threats, including the threat from the Daesh group.

He said this was the decision of the INDOMALPHI Trilateral Intelex Meeting held in Manila, Philippines recently.

“The meeting was held for the first time involving the participation of three countries, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines,” he said at the press conference after opening the joint Tenom, Keningau, Pensiangan Women, Youth and Puteri Umno delegates meeting here yesterday.

He said Malaysia was represented by the Malaysian Armed Forces defence intelligence director general (ATM) and the Royal Malaysian Police Special Branch director (PDRM).

In addition, he said the three countries also agreed that discussions and meetings between representatives of each country must be implemented quarterly on a rotational basis, adding that the three countries had also agreed to appoint Malaysia as the organizer for the second conference which is expected to take place in October this year.

“Indeed, this initiative is very important and historic for Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. This is because it has become a co-operation involving the three countries to combine military and policing elements for discussion and for sharing of intelligence information.

“To me, it is a timely approach that would be able to bring a positive impact on efforts to address the threat of violence in the region.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the ATM itself, we will be fully committed and ready to contribute whatever kind of partnership is expected to help make this initiative a success,” he said.

More than 3,000 delegates and observers including Umno division chiefs, Datuk Rubin Balang (Tenom), Datuk Haji Sairin Karno (Keningau), Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohd Yassin (Pensiangan); Women’s heads, Datuk Rahmahjan Sulaiman Khan (Tenom), Hajah Amelia Ajun (Keningau), Datuk Hajah Zaiton OKK Anik (Pensiangan); Youth leaders, Jamawi Jaafar (Tenom), Nik Nazri Nik Zawawi (Keningau), Jehan Osman (Pensiangan) , Puteri chiefs, Norhazrilah Latif (Tenom), Hajah Salbiah Suhaidi (Keningau), Norhafizah Muhamin (Pensiangan), Umno and BN components leaders were present at the event.