Regional and global security challenges particularly the threats of terrorism, irregular migration, cyber security and transnational crime were among the key matters discussed at the 7th Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (SRM) which was held at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, Indonesia earlier today.

Brunei Darussalam’s delegation to the meeting was led by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and Minister of Defence II. Also present were His Excellency Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Indonesia; Yang Mulia Awang Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary (Security and Law), PMO along with Senior Officers from the PMO.

The 7th SRM was co-chaired by His Excellency General (Ret.) Dudung Abdurachman, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; and The Honourable Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship of Australia. Also participating in this year’s meeting were Ministers and Senior Officials from Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore and Thailand.

The Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the PMO, and Minister of Defence II emphasized Brunei Darussalam’s position and policy of maintaining friendly relations with all countries in an effort to preserve the peace and security of this region. His remarks also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in the SRM to address the issue of terrorism and violent extremism in the region. In this regard, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will serve as Co-Chairs of the Senior Officials’ Counter-Terrorism Policy Forum under the SRM next year.

The Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Minister of Defence II also shared Brunei Darussalam’s efforts in combatting irregular migration particularly Trafficking in Persons. Recently, Brunei Darussalam’s ranking in the United States Trafficking in Persons Report has been upgraded for two consecutive years, rising to the Tier 2 Watch List in 2025 and to Tier 2 this year.

Later on, the delegation led by the Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the PMO, and Minister of Defence II also held a Courtesy Call with The Honourable Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship of Australia. During the Courtesy Call, both countries expressed satisfaction with the long-standing ties and cooperation across various areas, particularly in security. Both countries also discussed avenues to further strengthen cooperation on matters of mutual significance, including border security and cyber security.

News courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office
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Brunei Darussalam participated in the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and Its Related Meetings, held in Makati City, Republic of the Philippines, from 19 to 21 October 2026. The Opening Ceremony of the 20th AMMTC was officiated by His Excellency Juanito Victor C. Remulla Jr., Secretary of the Interior and Local Government of the Republic of Philippines as AMMTC Leader – Philippines on 20 October 2026.

The Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), accompanied by Yang Mulia Awang Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office and SOMTC Leader of Brunei Darussalam, as well as senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The AMMTC and Its Related Meetings serve as a significant annual platform for ASEAN Ministers responsible for transnational crime to discuss current crime trends and the regional security situation. The Meeting was preceded by the Preparatory Senior Officials’ Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) for the 20th AMMTC, held on 19 October 2026.

In his statement at the Plenary Session of the 20th AMMTC on 20 October 2026, Yang Berhormat Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law) reaffirmed Brunei Darussalam’s continued commitment to addressing transnational crime, particularly trafficking in persons (TIP), terrorism and violent extremism, money laundering and online scams, as well as illicit drug trafficking. Yang Berhormat Minister also shared Brunei Darussalam’s significant achievement of being upgraded to Tier 2 from the Tier 2 Watch List in the United States 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, marking a second consecutive year of improvement, and expressed his confidence that the best practices shared by the Republic of the Philippines as SOMTC Lead Shepherd on TIP, and by fellow ASEAN Member States had contributed to this progress and regarded the upgrade not as an end point, but as an encouragement to do more.

Yang Berhormat Minister further stressed that the terrorist threat is no longer conventional, with the primary concern now centred on lone actors, particularly young people who become self-radicalised online. On money laundering, Yang Berhormat Minister explained that the proceeds of online scams are remitted out of the country within minutes, noting that the money now moves faster than our investigations can follow, and called for faster cross-border cooperation to trace and freeze illicit proceeds.

On illicit drugs, Yang Berhormat Minister expressed concern over attempts by syndicates to exploit Brunei Darussalam as a transit point, and reaffirmed the country’s firm and uncompromising stance against cannabis, emphasising that its growing normalisation in some countries could create a false perception among young people that cannabis is harmless, when in fact it poses serious risks to health and well-being. In concluding his statement, Yang Berhormat Minister expressed Brunei Darussalam’s support for the Joint Statement of the Meeting and its commitment to continue working closely with ASEAN Member States towards a safer and more secure region.

On 21 October 2026, the AMMTC also held consultations with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, namely the 16th AMMTC + 3 Consultation, the 13th AMMTC + China Consultation, the 11th AMMTC + Japan Consultation and the 7th AMMTC + Republic of Korea Consultation. During the consultations, Yang Berhormat Minister expressed Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and conveyed appreciation for their support in addressing the threat of transnational crime.

While in the Philippines, Yang Berhormat Minister also held bilateral meetings with His Excellency Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs Malaysia, as AMMTC Leader-Malaysia and His Excellency Juanito Victor C. Remulla Jr. The meetings discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in addressing online scams, trafficking in persons, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.

The 20th AMMTC and Its Related Meetings were chaired by His Excellency Juanito Victor C. Remulla Jr. and attended by Ministers, Heads of Delegation and Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States. The Meeting was also attended by Her Excellency Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN.

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Brunei Darussalam participated in the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD), held virtually on 15 October 2026 and chaired by His Excellency Mr. Oscar F. Valenzuela, Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), who stressed that drugs are not merely a social or law enforcement issue, but a national security threat that erodes the resilience of our families, undermines public safety and fuels transnational organised crime.

The Minister also drew attention to the fact that 42 per cent of all drug-related arrests over the past year involved individuals below the age of 35. “These are young lives, and they tell us that we must intervene earlier and with greater precision,” said the Minister. Stressing that “no country can confront this threat alone,” the Minister highlighted a joint operation in 2025 involving seven enforcement agencies from five countries, including Brunei Darussalam, which seized nearly 110 kilogrammes of methylamphetamine. In this regard, he stated that “recovery is possible, and every individual who chooses that path deserves our support and a genuine second chance.”

The Meeting supported the extension of the implementation period of the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016–2025 to allow outstanding activities to be completed, while the Final Review led by the Republic of the Philippines is finalised. The Meeting also took note of the delivery of the Joint ASEAN Statement by the Republic of the Philippines at the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, which reflected ASEAN’s collective voice in addressing the world drug problem.

Key outcomes of the Meeting included the adoption of the Concept Note on Updating Annex I of the ASEAN Charter concerning the Nomenclature of ASOD and the Guidelines of Practices and Protocols for the AMMD and Its Subsidiary Mechanisms. The Meeting also commemorated the ASEAN Drug Victims Remembrance Day for the first time, as a mark of respect for those affected by drug abuse. The 9th AMMD was preceded by the Preparatory ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Drug Matters (Preparatory-ASOD) on 14 October 2026. The 10th AMMD will be chaired by Myanmar.

Also on the Brunei Darussalam delegation were Yang Mulia Awang Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office; Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau; and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Narcotics Control Bureau.

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