KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to enhance cooperation to effectively address the threats of terrorism and extremism in the region.
In a joint statement today, the three countries agreed to task their senior officials to consider the proposed Plan of Action, in the context of measures which include enhance effort and cooperation in addressing the root causes and underlying conditions of extremism including but not limited to poverty, narcotics or illegal drugs, crime and social injustice.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who represented Malaysia at the trilateral meeting which involved the Philippines and Indonesia today, said in his opening remark that the meeting was very timely as they urgently need to find new approaches in dealing with the new and increasing challenges and threats posed by terrorists.
"Terrorists have been with us throughout history. However, the challenge posed by terrorists in our day and age differ from those in the past in three very significant aspect.
"Firstly, motivated by a perverse ideology, terrorists today welcome death, for others and for themselves. In the past, terrorists retained a sense of self-preservation unlike today. It is far more difficult to stop people willing to die.
"Secondly, technology has enabled terrorists to spread their message faster and more broadly than ever before. They have proven to be experts at using social media to recruit followers in faraway countries.
"And thirdly, a sense of dissatisfaction, humiliation and alienation is pervasive. These are the results of fundamental changes in the social, economic and cultural structure of societies," he said.
Anifah added that Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia must adopt a comprehensive, yet flexible approach in addressing the problem, while also intensifying their cooperation and coordination so that extremists can be marginalised.
Anifah also said that the meeting could be seen as an extension of the discussions in the AQABA meeting, where the participants examined the growing threat of terrorism particularly in Southeast Asia.
"I recalled there is a poignant need for such process to also include a formal mechanism where sharing of experiences, information and intelligence could be translated into concrete actions and follow-up.
"Therefore, I believe there is a need for us today to agree to formalise our cooperation through an establishment of a mechanism which include all relevant stakeholders.
"This was discussed by our senior officials meeting leaders this morning. This is an urgent task that we need to undertake as clearly evidenced through the current situation in Marawi, and the recent terror attacks in various parts of the world," he said. The trilateral meeting which took place in Manila today was attended by Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi and the Philippines' Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
In the joint statement, the three countries also agreed to promote social and economic development particularly in adjoining areas of the countries.
The countries also agreed to work on enhancing the intelligence and information sharing among all security and intelligence agencies on potential, imminent and real threats; stopping the flow of terrorist financing; containing the spread of terrorism and terrorism-related content in the cyberspace, particularly in social media; and preventing and suppressing the terrorist exploitation of information and communication technology and the dissemination of terrorist messages.
The countries also vowed to prevent and stop the flow of illicit arms and arms smuggling as well as the movement of all terrorists and to consider the provision of specialised military and law enforcement training.
The countries have also decided to have their next meeting to be held in Indonesia in October.