SINGAPORE – Singapore and Malaysia signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on November 14 to deepen cooperation to prevent and combat transnational crime.

The partnership was signed by Home Minister K. Shanmugam and his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, at the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The signing took place as part of Mr Saifuddin’s official visit to Singapore on November 13-14.

Singapore’s MHA said in a statement on November 16: “The MoU attests to the long-standing ties between local team departments and law enforcement agencies in Malaysia, with both parties cooperating in sharing information, training and capacity building, as well as mutual assistance on a range of areas. security issues. »

Under the agreement, Singapore and Malaysia will strengthen cooperation in combating transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime and scams, including cyber scams.

A joint working committee between the interior ministries of the two countries will also be established to identify and develop activities, policies or programs to be carried out under the MoU, the statement added.

This comes as both countries have seen an increase in criminal cases, particularly related to scams.

Scam figures reach record levels in Singapore in the first half of 2024, with more than $385.6 million lost in 26,587 reported cases.

If the trend continues, losses linked to scams could exceed $770 million by the end of 2024.

The Straits Times reported on November 14 an emerging trend that foreigners are sent to Singapore by unions to commit credit card fraud, targeting retailers across the island.

Authorities have warned retailers about syndicates allegedly stealing victims’ credit card information through a series of online phishing scams.

In Malaysia, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said in August that RM3.18 billion (S$950.3 million) was lost to online scams between 2021 and April 2024.