KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will host an international ‘deradicalisation’ workshop in January next year, as part of joint anti-terrorism efforts with Indonesia and other countries, the Home Ministry said today.
In a statement, the ministry said the workshop was aimed at establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for combating radicalisation.
“The United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, will be among the other countries participating,” the ministry said.
According to the statement, the workshop and other anti-terrorism initiatives were among the key issues discussed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his three-day official visit to Indonesia.
Zahid, who arrived in Jakarta yesterday, met with Indonesia’s political, legal and security affairs minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan before paying a courtesy call on the country’s vice-president Jusuf Kalla.
During the discussions, both countries also agreed to cooperate in the effort to reduce the haze currently blanketing the region.
“Indonesia will ensure stricter enforcement of laws while Malaysia will monitor the operations of its government-linked companies in Indonesia,” the ministry said.
The two countries will also continue to work together on migrant issues, including on a programme to legalise Indonesian immigrants in Malaysia who have secured permanent employment.
“Both countries view this effort seriously to ensure that incidents, such as the recent sinking of a boat carrying Indonesia migrants, will not happen again.”
Other matters discussed were the global economy and bilateral trade.
Zahid, who is home minister, is later expected to meet with his Indonesian counterpart Jahyo Kumolo and with the country’s manpower and transmigration minister Hanif M. Dhakiri.
He will also pay a visit to the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.