Malaysia became a member of the FATF in February 2016. The FATF currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions and two regional organisations. Apart from the FATF, there are also FATF-styled regional bodies (FSRBs) which have similar functions like the FATF. Currently, there are eight FSRBs across the globe and these include the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) of which, Malaysia is also a member since May 2000.

As a “policy-making body”, the FATF has developed the international standards on combating ML/TF/PF known as the “FATF Recommendations”. The FATF monitors the progress of countries in implementing the FATF Recommendations within their domestic AML/CFT/CPF regime through the mutual evaluation (peer review) process:

Malaysia went through the mutual evaluation process in 2001, 2007 and 2014.The NCC spearheads Malaysia’s preparation for all FATF evaluations and assessments.

Please refer to https://www.fatf-gafi.org for further information on the FATF.

The APG’s membership currently stands at 41 active member jurisdictions making it the largest FSRB in the world. In addition, 11 members of the APG are also members of the FATF namely Australia, Canada, India, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States of America.

Since becoming a member in May 2000, Malaysia has supported many initiatives undertaken by the APG including the following:

1. Co-Chair of the APG, together with Australia from 2000 to 2002;

2. Co-Chair of the Regional Review Group under the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) which is mandated to review member countries’ AML/CFT measures identified by the ICRG from 2008 to 2010;

3. Co-Chair of the Implementation Issues Working Group (IIWG) which is mandated to provide strategic support to members in the implementation of the FATF Recommendations from 2006 to 2010; and

4. A current member of the APG Donor & Provider Group (DAP) which is mandated to provide technical assistance and advisory services in the region on a range of issues associated with AML/CFT.

Malaysia again has become the Co-Chair of the APG, together with Australia from 2020 to 2022. In this regard, the Malaysian Co-Chair has implemented a list of Co-Chairs’ Priorities for 2020-2022 and endorsed by the APG membership, covering DNFBP supervision, data analytics, Public-Private Partnership and secretariat resourcing (through secondments). 

Please refer to http://www.apgml.org for further details on the APG.

The Egmont Group is a united body of 166 financial intelligence units (FIUs). The Egmont Group provides a platform for the secure exchange of expertise and financial intelligence on ML/TF. This is especially relevant as FIUs are uniquely positioned to cooperate and support national and international efforts to counter terrorist financing and are the trusted gateway for sharing financial information domestically and internationally in accordance with global AML/CFT standards.

Malaysia was admitted as a member of the Egmont Group in July 2003. Malaysia was also elected as the Asia and Pacific Region Chair in the Egmont Committee for two terms i.e. 2006/2008 and 2008/2010.

Please refer to https://egmontgroup.org for further details on the Egmont Group

Malaysia is a founding member of ASEAN which was established in August 1967.

One of the fundamental principles of ASEAN is to strengthen the foundations for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations. In line with this principle and recognising the detrimental effects of transnational crime, the ASEAN Member States have established a framework to strengthen and coordinate ASEAN collaboration in combating transnational crime as follows:

1. ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC):

• The policy-making body for ASEAN cooperation in combating transnational crime.

2. Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) 

• Implements policies and plans adopted by the AMMTC.
• The 10 areas of cooperation under the purview of SOMTC are arms smuggling, terrorism, money laundering, sea piracy, people smuggling, trafficking in persons, international economic crime, cybercrime, illicit drug trafficking and illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber. Malaysia is the lead shepherd for the money laundering, sea piracy and people smuggling initiatives. 
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is the coordinating agency for Malaysia’s representation to SOMTC and AMMTC.

Please refer to https://asean.org for further details on ASEAN.