On November 18, 2024, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat hosted a visit from Associate Professor Dr. Cheah Phaik Kin of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar Campus in Perak, Malaysia. The ASEANAPOL delegation was led by Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan, accompanied by Superintendent Azrul Hashim B. Mohd. Shaffei, Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid Abdul Hashim, Assistant Superintendent of Police Engku ‘Aini Engku Malek, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Nithia Perumal.
Dr. Cheah, in addition to her academic role, serves as a volunteer officer with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), where she contributes to community policing services. She has also written a relevant article for the latest edition of the ASEANAPOL Magazine, further demonstrating her dedication to advancing law enforcement practices and research.
The purpose of Dr. Cheah's visit was to explore potential areas of collaboration between UTAR and the ASEANAPOL Secretariat. The meeting began with Executive Director Vinluan offering an overview of ASEANAPOL’s key functions as a regional law enforcement organization, which facilitates cooperation among police organizations in ASEAN Member States. He emphasized the importance of building strategic partnerships with academic institutions to enhance research on crime-related issues in the region.
Dr. Cheah expressed a strong interest in fostering closer cooperation, particularly in the field of crime analysis research within ASEAN countries. She proposed data-sharing opportunities to support this research and offered to help secure grant funding from UTAR for projects initiated by ASEANAPOL.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the partnership. They expressed mutual aspirations for a long-lasting collaboration that could serve as a model for strategic engagement between the ASEANAPOL Secretariat and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, contributing to the advancement of law enforcement research in the ASEAN region.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"