The move to increase the resources for money laundering and terrorism financing investigations by the domestic law enforcement agencies, which currently is the emerging trend, needs to be supported with swift actions from the FIU and prompt response from reporting institutions. Another is that, at the international level, Malaysia will continue to enhance multilateral and bilateral relationships. I am happy to inform that we have recently concluded an MoU with the National Bank of Cambodia, bringing the total number of MoUs signed to 18. We have and will continue to provide assistance to countries in the Asia/Pacific region. Second is to provide greater focus in enhancing the competency and capacity of key stakeholders, i.e., the analysts, law enforcement officers and compliance officers. Despite the unfavourable economic condition, human resources and capacity building remain as one of our top focus. We plan to roll out capacity building programmes for analysts and enforcement officers covering fundamental, intermediate and advance level training programmes. The Certified Financial Investigators Programme, or CFIP, i.e., our flagship basic programme for financial investigators has produced 83 investigators with knowledge on the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, as well as financial investigation techniques. We are open to collaborate with our foreign counterparts to conduct advanced level workshops. The third area is to further improve the quality of analysis. High quality STRs underpins an effective mechanism as quality STRs provide valuable intelligence for investigations.

Indeed, the spirit of "acting for greater good" is clearly manifested by all those who are involved in the organisation of this conference. We are also very pleased in having participants as well as experts and resource persons of multilateral agencies from as many as 12 different countries. The attendance of so many participants and experts from the domestic and the international community for this conference speaks volumes for the importance of this subject and the universal relevance of the issues to be deliberated in this conference. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the speakers and moderators who had make their way to Kuala Lumpur from all around the globe; it is indeed an honour to have all of you here to speak at this important conference. Our thanks to those international multilateral institutions in working with longestablished domestic and regional organisations in participating or organising regional conferences on topical issues. On a few occasion, we have observed some multilateral institutions upstaging these regional bodies. This is not beneficial nor the right thing to do. It is better to collaborate and avoid duplicity so that, overall, it will be a win-win for all parties. I. Remaining vigilant in facing turbulence amid economic downturn regionally and globally  The current global financial crisis is centred in the advanced economies and the severe financial instability and the resultant economic downturns has affected and infected the developing world as well. This shows that we live in an increasingly interconnected world.