AIPA CAUCUS FOCUSES ON DRUG MENACE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAWS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The first Asean Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA) Caucus Meeting, which began here Monday, is to focus on the
harmonisation of laws in combating the drug menace and human trafficking to
facilitate regional cooperation in enforcement.

Lower House of Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said he was confident
the three-day meeting would establish a consensus on the guidelines and identify
the areas where the laws could be harmonised.

"The harmonisation of our (Asean) laws will promote better cooperation and
coordination of enforcement in the envisaged Asean community," he said at the
opening of the meeting at Parliament House, here.

Pandikar Amin said the AIPA Caucus was an important mechanism to develop
common legislative initiatives with the objective of harmonisation of the laws
of the Asean countries.

"Admittedly, this harmonisation exercise is not a simple task and it might
take several AIPA caucus meetings before the areas of the laws could be firmed
up," he said.

"Other laws especially pertaining to trans-border crimes would be added at
future caucus meetings," he said.

He also said that AIPA had the important responsibility of providing the
perspective of parliamentarians and in voicing the concerns and interests of the
people of the region.
-- BERNAMA