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STATEMENT BY

MR. NIZHAN FARAZ RIZAL FIRST SECRETARY

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

DURING THE GENERAL DISCUSSION ON

AGENDA ITEM 107: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENDA ITEM 108: COUNTERING THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES FOR CRIMINAL PURPOSES AGENDA ITEM 109: INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL

THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE 79TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 7 OCTOBER 2024

Thank you, Chair.

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Singapore on behalf of ASEAN and adds the following remarks in our national capacity.

Chair,

2. Criminal activities continue to evolve with the advancement of technology. It has allowed criminals, be it individuals or organisations, to conduct their heinous activities across borders and jurisdictions. As we become increasingly dependent on digital technologies, criminals too are moving their operations into the virtual world. Technological developments have also led to the emergence of new forms of crimes. One which Malaysia continues to be deeply concerned with is online job offer scams as well as cyber-related scam activities, which has resulted in our innocent nationals to be stranded or detained in neighbouring countries.

3. Malaysia continues to review and update its laws and policies on a regular basis so as to cope with the ever-changing nature of criminal activities. We continue to adopt a “whole-of-government” approach in crime prevention and criminal justice, and maintain close collaboration with non-governmental and civil society organisations. On the issue of victims of overseas job opportunity scams, the Government continues to provide assistance to citizens that have fallen victim to these syndicates. We continue to hold the view that collaborative efforts, especially within our region, is critical in preventing and combating human trafficking perpetrated by these job scam syndicates.

Chair,

4. Malaysia is pleased to note that the UN cybercrime convention has been adopted by the Ad Hoc Committee last August. We appreciate the efforts of its Chair, Ambassador Faouzia Mebarki of Algeria, for skilfully steering a difficult process to fruition. Despite having concerns with some of the provisions within the draft convention, we recognise the value of the instrument in supporting global efforts in combating cybercrime. We look forward to the formal adoption of the draft convention by the General Assembly.

5. Domestically, Malaysia recently enacted the Cyber Security Act 2024, which entered into force in August. The Act is a major milestone in strengthening Malaysia's cyber defenses and enhancing our resilience against emerging threats.

Chair,

6. Illicit drug use and trafficking remains a serious transnational threat. It is a scourge that challenges the security, stability, and sovereignty of States. It is imperative that regional and international cooperation supplement national efforts to combat crime and drugs. Combating drug-related crimes is a top priority for Malaysia. We will further enhance law enforcement and adopt comprehensive strategies to address their impact on public safety and stability. In addition, we continue to apply a multi-dimensional approach in tackling the drug problem, by increasing access to drug treatment and rehabilitation services, implementing evidence-based drug prevention and demand reduction intervention programmes, as well as strengthening law enforcement cooperation with regional and international partners. We have established a dedicated Cabinet-level mechanism to foster collaboration and synergy among key stakeholders in developing comprehensive strategies to diminish the supply and demand for drugs and psychotropic substances. Recently, in July, Malaysian and Indonesian law enforcement officials seized various types of drugs weighing a total of 247.9 kilogrammes, in an effort to combat cross-border drug smuggling.