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Research Division of the Prime Minister's Department
Malaysian government agency / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Research Division of the Prime Minister's Department (Malay: Bahagian Penyelidikan Jabatan Perdana Menteri) is an agency within the Malaysian Prime Minister's Department.[3] According to a leaked US diplomatic cable dating back to 2006, the Research Division is actually the public name for the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), the country's main foreign intelligence agency.[4]
![]() Coat of arms of Malaysia | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1960 (64 years ago) |
Headquarters | Putrajaya, Malaysia |
Employees | Classified (est. 300-1000) [1][2] |
Annual budget | Classified |
Parent department | Prime Minister's Department |
Previously a controversial division under the Barisan Nasional government, MEIO is currently undergoing restructuring. The division, which operates under the Prime Minister’s Department, had previously faced scrutiny for allegedly acting as a front to monitor government critics and maintain former Prime Minister Najib Razak's power.
As Malaysia's national security covert intelligence agency, MEIO is estimated to have between 300 and 1000 agents, officers, and operatives around the world, with approximately half stationed abroad. Its offices are located in Putrajaya and Jalan Bellamy in Kuala Lumpur. [1][5]
In its operations, MEIO works with several other Malaysian government departments and agencies including the Special Branch, Malaysia Defence Intelligence Organisation, and National Security Council. MEIO has covert intelligence sources around the world and shares its information with the Prime Minister, the Malaysian Cabinet, and other agencies.