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Transnational crime an increasing threat: M'sian home ministerJun 30, 2011 (The Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ANN) -- Globalisation has created opportunities for criminal activities to operate on a larger scale, said Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. Cyber crime, information and identity theft, maritime piracy and a host of other criminal activities are inextricably connected to globalisation. "Just last week, several Malaysian government websites were hacked by cyber criminals who simply wan-ted to make a political point. "The security of our nation might not have been harmed directly but it serves as a stark reminder of the new threats we are forced to cope with," he said in his paper on Challenging and Managing Threats of Transnational Crime in the 21st century at the 2nd General Police and Special Equipment Exhibition and Conference (GPEC) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Hishammuddin said developments over the past decades have elevated transnational crime higher up the security agenda. "Such transnational threats are no long a military concern and curbing them is an agenda of the security community as a whole, with police and intelligence forces in the front line," he added. Unlike traditional criminal outfits with an obvious leadership structure, international terrorism thrives on its fluid nature, with cells scattered throughout the globe. "What makes international terrorism even more worrisome is the collusion between terrorist insurgents and transnational organised crime. "Crippling the terrorist threat also requires action against more traditional transnational crimes like drug trafficking or money laundering," he said. It is important that the international security community act in cooperation to share sensitive information, capabilities and even intelligence, added Hishammuddin. To see more of the Asia News Network, go to http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/ Copyright (c) 2011, The Star, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Asia News Network Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |