Indonesia, Singapore Cooperate in Counterterrorism, Radicalism
7 March 2017 07:32 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to cooperate in political, legal and security affairs, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said. He yesterday received a courtesy call from Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
“I said that the two countries are focusing on seeking mutual benefits from the bilateral relations, particularly in my field of expertise i.e. political, legal and security affairs,” Wiranto said in Jakarta on Monday, March 6, 2017.
Wiranto stressed that the two countries are putting particular emphasis on prominent issues, such as terrorism and radicalism. According to him, both Indonesia and Singapore are facing similar enemies and conditions with regard to such issues.
During the meeting, Wiranto also discussed the efforts to combat cybercrime. He talked with Chee Hean about the impending establishment of the National Cyber Agency.
Wiranto said Indonesia need to cooperate with Singapore who already has its own cyber agency, particularly to share its experiences. “We had visited [Singapore] and continue to communicate. We do have cyber agencies, but they belong to separate agencies, there is one each in BIN [State Intelligence Agency], the National Police and the Defense Ministry.”
According to him, the cyber agencies will be merged into a single entity.
Wiranto and Chee Hean also discussed the roles of the two countries in the resolution of South China Sea disputes.
“We don’t expect the issue to result in a conflict, no competing claims, but to respect national law and restrain from activities that could cause conflicts,” Wiranto said.
YOHANES PASKALIS