PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia’s Immigration Department and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have signed an MoU to strengthen enforcement against cross-border crimes that increasingly rely on communications technology and digital platforms.

Signed on Aug. 18, the agreement covers intelligence and information sharing, joint investigations, integrated operations and staff capacity building. It also provides for stronger links between the agencies’ systems to support detection, investigations and enforcement.

The practical focus is on cases that require expertise from both immigration and communications authorities. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said combining the agencies’ capabilities could improve enforcement when investigations require joint follow-up.

“Combining the expertise of both agencies can improve enforcement effectiveness, especially when a case requires joint follow-up,” Saifuddin said.

Communications Minister Dato’ Seri Fahmi Fadzil identified online scams, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, document forgery and identity misuse among offences in which criminal syndicates can exploit communications networks and digital platforms.

Malaysia is also dealing with a high volume of harmful online content. Fahmi said MCMC asked social-media platforms to remove 470,593 pieces of content between Jan. 1 and Aug. 17. Platforms removed 436,661, or 93%, while gambling accounted for 64% of the material referred for removal and scams another 27%, according to Bernama.

MCMC is separately tightening requirements for prepaid mobile-user registration. Fahmi said the changes are aimed at improving the integrity of registration procedures and preventing identity documents from being misused for criminal purposes.

The MoU documents were exchanged at Dewan Gemilang at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya by MCMC Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din and Immigration Director-General Dato’ Zakaria Shaaban, with Saifuddin and Fahmi witnessing the ceremony.

Fahmi said the growing use of communications technology by criminal networks had changed the enforcement challenge facing authorities. “The reality is that crime today is no longer confined to physical borders,” he said.