ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS
PRESS RELEASE
TUESDAY, 16TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Signing Ceremony of the Sanur Bali Declaration
Establishing The ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting
(APAGM)
Bali, Indonesia
ASEAN Member States yesterday marked a historic milestone with the signing of the Sanur Bali Declaration, officially establishing the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM). This new body will serve as a cornerstone for regional legal cooperation, reinforcing the role of Prosecutors' / Attorney Generals' Offices in upholding the rule of law, delivering holistic justice, and protecting the public interest across Southeast Asia.
The signing ceremony was held on the 15th of September 2025 in Bali, Indonesia, and was attended by Attorney Generals and Prosecutor Generals from ASEAN Member States, including the Honourable Attorney General and Public Prosecutor of Brunei Darussalam, Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Muhammed Taib and senior prosecutors from the Attorney General's Chambers.
Under the Sanur Bali Declaration, the APAGM is recognised as an ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial
Body, which will serve as a vital platform for collaboration among the prosecutorial authorities of ASEAN Member States. It aims to enhance capacity-building, facilitate information sharing, and coordinate efforts to address transnational crimes and uphold the rule of law across the region.
Transnational crime remains one of the most pressing challenges in the region, encompassing amongst others, human trafficking, illicit drug trade, money laundering, cybercrime, and environmental offences. Further, the rise of emerging threats such as, the misuse of artificial intelligence, sophisticated cyberattacks, and the spread of disinformation, underscores the urgency of coordinated regional legal responses.
The APAGM will provide a formal mechanism for prosecutorial coordination and cooperation, reinforcing ASEAN's legal infrastructure and enhancing its capacity to address evolving criminal threats. It will work in close alignment with existing ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, such as the ASEAN Law Ministers' Meeting (“ALAWMM"), the ASEAN Ministers/Attorneys General Meeting of the Central Authorities on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (“AMAG-MLAT"), as well as other entities associated with ASEAN.
The Sanur Bali Declaration is a culmination of a series of consultative meetings among the offices of the Attorney Generals and Prosecutor Generals of the ASEAN Member States. The APAGM will be supported by the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting of Prosecutors/Attorneys General (SOM-APAGM), to ensure continuity and implementation of strategic initiatives.
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