HOME MINISTRY SETS UP TWO NEW DIVISIONS

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry has set up two new
divisions namely the international division and the research and development and
monitoring division, in the efforts to raise its standards on par with
international benchmark, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

For a start, he said, the two divisions would focus on cross border human
and drug trafficking, credit card fraud and passport forgery.

"We have established the two divisions to assist and to obtain assistance
from other organs of the government including our diplomatic missions abroad.

"We are also in the midst of coming to some kind of understanding with
countries like Australia and New Zealand to curb the menace of drug and human
trafficking," he told reporters after a briefing session at the 7th Heads of
Mission Conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

He said the two divisions were also established to show the international
community that Malaysia was indeed serious in tackling cross border crimes and
to assists Malaysians who faced legal problems overseas.

"These two divisions were set up for us to conform with the international
standards in combating cross border crimes.

"This is not only good for the country's image but will also assist
Malaysians who are in trouble when abroad," he added.

On his meeting with Malaysian envoys based overseas, he said several issues
were raised and they had also given "valuable" inputs on how the Home Ministry
could tackle problems which cropped up from time to time.

"We also agreed to focus on issues that could undermine the country's image
overseas. We have to find ways to overcome bad perception about the country
created by some people," he added.
-- BERNAMA