Malaysia press reports the signing of a United States Malaysia Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on January 21, 2009.

“NEW YORK: A treaty which allows Malaysia and the United States to work together to fight a wide range of crimes from money laundering to terrorism will come into effect today. Under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty (MLAT), the authorities of both countries will be able to assist each other in obtaining evidence, serving documents, executing searches and seizures, locating and identifying criminals and crime sites, and freezing and forfeiting assets.

The document exchange took place at the US State Department in Washington DC yesterday between Charge d’Affaires Ilango Karuppannan and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill. “It is indeed befitting that this ceremony is being held on the first day of the new US administration,” Ilango said. He said this symbolised a new beginning in Malaysia-US relations. “Among the agencies which would be involved within the MLAT framework are the police, Immigration, Customs as well as other bodies such as the Central Bank and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Ilango said.”