On 24 June 2025, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 25th Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) and Its Related Meetings, hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia on 23 – 27 June 2025 at Marriott Hotel, Putrajaya.

 

Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia, welcomed the delegation of ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste participating in the meeting. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the necessity for ASEAN to enhance cooperation in addressing increasingly complex and threatening transnational crime, particularly cybercrime. He promoted the effective use of technology and innovation to strengthen capabilities in prevention, detection, and law enforcement, as well as to foster concrete information sharing and joint capacity development to maintain regional security and stability.

 

The Ambassador was pleased to meet with the Thai delegation participating in the meeting, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, Assistant Commissioner General, Royal Thai Police; Pol. Maj. Gen. Worawat Amornwiwat, Deputy Commissioner of Special Branch Bureau, Royal Thai Police; and Pol. Maj. Gen. Songklod Krirkkitaya, Commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Central Investigation Bureau, Royal Thai Police. They exchanged information regarding developments in Thailand-Malaysia security relations and reaffirmed the Embassy’s readiness to continuously support the mission of Thai security agencies.

 

SOMTC is a meeting of senior officials from ASEAN member countries to discuss and collaborate on addressing transnational crime issues in the region. This meeting will include discussions between SOMTC and dialogue partner countries, namely Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union.