The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, successfully hosted the second SEARCCT International Conference (SIC 2025) from 24 to 26 June 2025 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur. With the theme “Emerging Trends in Terrorism and Violent Extremism”, the conference provided a strategic platform to address the evolving threats and complexities of modern terrorism while strengthening regional and international cooperation in countering terrorism and violent extremism.
Over three days, the event gathered 209 participants from around the world, representing government agencies, diplomatic missions, the security sector, academia, research institutions, and civil society organisations. The programme featured five in-depth panel discussions covering critical topics, including online radicalisation, the role of artificial intelligence in terrorism, and preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE), the evolution of lone actor and small cell tactics, the challenges of digital disinformation, and regional approaches to PCVE.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by YBhg. Datin Paduka Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib, followed by the opening address by YBhg. Dato’ Ahmad Rozian Abd. Ghani, on behalf of YB Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The conference received extensive media coverage from Bernama, The Star, New Straits Times, Sin Chew Daily, Malaysia Reserve, and Vietnam Plus.
On the final day, Mr. Kennimrod Sariburaja, Head of Rapporteurs, delivered a comprehensive summary of the panel discussions, highlighting key takeaways and recommendations, before YBhg. Datin Paduka Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib delivered the closing remarks on behalf of YBhg. Dato’ Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
SIC 2025 reinforces Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities and advances the regional agenda on collective security and resilience, in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (2018–2025), the Bali Work Plan (2019–2025), and ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.