Tillerson and Zahid hold fruitful talks
KUALA LUMPUR: Security issues and bilateral relations were the focus of discussions when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said they exchanged views on security developments and regional and international issues of common interest during the 40minute meeting at Parliament House yesterday.
“Hopefully, interaction between leaders of both countries can strengthen bilateral relations and be a catalyst to enhancing relations and understanding between Malaysia and the US,” he said in a statement.
Tillerson, who is on a twoday working visit to Malaysia, is the first US senior official under President Donald Trump's administration to visit the country. He was appointed Secretary of State on Feb 1.
In combating threats of transborder crimes such as human trafficking, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia needed to forge closer cooperation with its strategic partners, including the United States.
He said Malaysia's initiatives had been recognised by the US State Department in its 2017 Annual Report.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia achieved Tier 2 as it had shown drastic improvements in criminal prose cution (100 cases in 2017) as well as in its enforcement.
“This is the best achievement since the AntiTrafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act was introduced in 2007,” he said, adding that Malaysia was targeting Level One for 2020.
On bilateral relations, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to address transborder crime on July 17, 2012 and on immigration cooperation on Oct 1, 2014.
“Both parties should apply the two MoUs to promote cooperation in identifying current and future transborder crime threats, as well as migration and related issues,” he said.
On combating terrorism, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia and the United States signed a document on the sharing of information on terror ism (Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD6) on Oct 8, 2015, which listed individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism.
Both were of the view that terrorism and extremism should be monitored, especially on social media.
“Malaysia is prepared to share its experience and expertise in the area of deradicalisation, which has a 97.5% success rate,” Dr Ahmad Zahid said. — Bernama