Brunei Darussalam will continue to support regional and international efforts towards combating cross-border crimes, focusing on the opportunities and challenges potentially faced by ASEAN countries post COVID-19 era. The Second Minister of Defence in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Security Committee stated the matter at the Plenary Session of the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, AMMTC held via video conferencing TODAY at the International Convention Centre, Berakas. According to Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the AMMTC needs to further strengthen the level of cooperation with ASEAN sectoral bodies and ASEAN dialogue partner countries in order to assist regional recovery efforts during the current COVID-19 crisis.

The 15th AMMTC had agreed to endorse the 'Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration to Combat Transnational Crime Post COVID-19 Pandemic' that serves as a foundation for the AMMTC's planning to combat the latest crime trends especially in the post-COVID 19 era in the future. The Meeting has also agreed to adopt the 'ASEAN Border Cooperation Roadmap' which outlined efforts to further strengthen the security level in the border areas of the ASEAN region. The Brunei Darussalam Delegation at the 15th AMMTC was led by Dato Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu, Permanent Secretary for Security, Enforcement and Law at the Prime Minister's Office. Also in attendance was His Excellency Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, ASEAN Secretary- General.

Source: Radio Television Brunei