Tuesday November 15, 2005
Malaysia, Australia sign treaties to fight terrorism, transnational crime
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Malaysia and Australia signed two treaties Tuesday aimed at strengthening their cooperation against terrorism and transnational crime.
Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison and Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail signed an extradition treaty and another pact on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters.
The treaties, which the countries began negotiating last December, reflect "the commitment and political will of both governments to enhance their bilateral cooperation to combat transnational crime and deny safe haven to criminals and terrorists,'' Abdul Gani said.
"The treaties will also ensure that the law and legal framework will facilitate the efforts of our law enforcement agencies, instead of being a barrier in their pursuit and prosecution of criminals,'' he said at the signing ceremony in Putrajaya.
The legal assistance agreement will enable authorities to gather evidence in each other's countries for criminal investigations by providing a framework for the sharing of documents, intelligence about suspects and other details, Abdul Gani said.
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Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison, right, and Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, left, exchange a signed document as Minister of Prime Minister Department Mohamod Radzi Sheikh Ahmad looks on after signed an extradition treaty and another pact on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters at a hotel in Putrajaya, Tuesday. - APpic |
"The region must work together. No one country can do it on its own,'' Ellison said.
"Australia is totally committed in the fight against terrorism and transnational crime. We want to work with our neighbors in the region.''
Malaysia expects to sign a treaty on legal assistance with Hong Kong next month, Abdul Gani said, adding that officials are also discussing similar treaties with Britain and a mutual legal assistance pact with the United States.
A decade-old extradition treaty with Washington is being reviewed to determine whether it requires updating.
Ellison added that Australian police have interviewed a Malaysian militant suspect, Azman Hashim, whom Malaysian authorities arrested in 2003 and reportedly had ties in the past with 18 recently arrested alleged members of an Australian terror network believed to have been plotting a major attack.
Azman, who is accused of being a member of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah network, "has no connections with the current ongoing operation and matters in court'' in relation to the Australian suspects, Ellison said.
He declined to elaborate.
The Australian suspects were arrested in Sydney and Melbourne last week.
he Sydney men have been charged with conspiring to manufacture explosives in preparation for a terrorist act, and the 10 Melbourne men are accused of being members of a terrorist organisation. - AP
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