ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON “THE NEXUS BETWEEN CRIME ANDTERRORISM IN SABAH”

On 22 November 2024, SEARCCT successfully hosted a roundtable discussion titled “The Nexus Between Crime and Terrorism in Sabah” at Le Meridien, Kota Kinabalu. Moderated by Mr. Kennimrod Sariburaja, Director of Research and Publications at SEARCCT, the event featured two distinguished panellists (1) Prof. Madya Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan, Senior Fellow from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), who presented on “Evolution of Political Landscape and Geo-Security Dynamics in the Southern Philippines: Why it Matters to Us in Malaysia?” and (2) Dr. Hafiza Nur Adeen Nor Ahmad, Senior Lecturer at UMS, who discussed “Crime-Terrorism Nexus in Sabah and the Greater Sulu-Celebes Sea: Past and Future Risk Assessments.”

The roundtable brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, policy practitioners, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Participants included representatives from the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Malaysian Prison Department, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) and Sabah State Government agencies. These stakeholders actively contributed to the interactive Q&A session, offering valuable perspectives on addressing regional security challenges.

This initiative underscores SEARCCT’s commitment to fostering collaboration and deepening understanding of critical security issues, particularly the complex nexus between crime and terrorism in Malaysia and the surrounding region.