Malaysia, US strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation

A policeman at the international airport in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia and the US on November 19 signed an agreement on intensified counter-terrorism cooperation in the context that terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13 may provoke blind assaults in the region.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi said the agreement will allow Malaysia to access the US’s database on suspected terrorists, including 1.2 million fingerprints, with the aim to prevent them from entering the country and using it as a destination of transit.

Hamidi added that the agreement would pave the way for a visa waiver programme for Malaysia. Accordingly, Malaysian citizens could travel to the US with visa exemption for 90 days for tourism and business.

US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun said that the deal marks a milestone in joint efforts to fight insurgents, creating a mechanism to share database containing details of terrorists and terrorist suspects and other serious crimes.

Since 2013, Malaysia has arrested some 150 supporters of Islamic State (IS), some of whom were allegedly plotting attacks in the country.-VNA