KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia and Singapore have strengthened their united front against drug trafficking, with both governments pledging enhanced collaboration to tackle the regional narcotics threat.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia has consistently upheld due process and respected the judicial independence of other nations when its citizens face legal action abroad, including in Singapore.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 12th Singapore-Malaysia Annual Leaders’ Retreat, Anwar emphasised that Malaysia’s position on drug offences remains firm despite recent amendments to mandatory death penalty laws.
“The drug menace is a problem in Malaysia. We have traditionally taken a very strong stance, although we have amended the issue of mandatory death sentence,” he was quoted saying by Bernama.
Anwar said that any diplomatic representations made on behalf of Malaysian citizens facing drug charges in Singapore are solely to convey the concerns of their families.
“In no way am I giving any indication that we are tolerating or condoning the drug trade. We also take a very strong stance against it,” he said.
Wong, meanwhile, reiterated Singapore’s zero-tolerance approach, describing it as essential to maintaining a safe environment for families and children.
“We hope all countries understand the rationale for our strong stance and respect the way we conduct our policies on this front,” he said.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, including through existing frameworks targeting cross-border drug syndicates and related criminal networks.
Earlier, Anwar and Wong witnessed the exchange of several memoranda of understanding, including one between the home ministries of both nations to bolster joint efforts in combating drug trafficking. – December 4, 2025