ASEAN member nations can seek Australia’s expertise on immigration issues

PUTRAJAYA: ASEAN member countries can seek views on addressing immigration issues in the region from Australia at the 22nd ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM).

Immigration Department directorgeneral Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said Australia would have a dedicated session to share its experiences and expertise on the matter in the four-day meeting, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, beginning yesterday.

“Australia is an ASEAN strategic partner. They will also have a session to give their points of view on several of their collaborations in matters pertaining to capacity building.

“We know that some of their technologies are advanced when it comes to expertise and training… What we want them to highlight is what they can share with us on these technologies,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama here.

Mustafar said the meeting would also discuss on border management.

In addition to Australia, countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines were also welcomed to share views on advanced technology in immigration management as well as their experiences in addressing human trafficking, he said.

Mustafar said ASEAN member nations needed more bilateral and multilateral cooperation in tackling immigration issues just like the existing network of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Police (ASEANAPOL) in combatting transborder crimes.

“We have the spirit of cooperation and togetherness... we cannot operate in silos,” he said.

About 100 senior immigration officers from 10 countries will be joining this year’s DGICM themed ‘Sovereignty and Security is Our Mission’.