On December 18, 2024, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat hosted a key meeting at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with representatives from Moody’s Singapore: Mr. Dominic Wong, Data, Intelligence & Investigation Specialist for Public Sector ASEAN, and Mr. Gary Ong, Head of KYC Sales for APAC.
The meeting was warmly welcomed by the ASEANAPOL Secretariat’s Head of Administrative and Technical Staff, Superintendent Siva Pergahsum A/L
Shanmugam, who expressed enthusiasm for potential collaboration with Moody’s to enhance police investigations, particularly regarding Data Solutions for Law Enforcement, Insights on Scam Centres, and Transaction Monitoring. The discussion also focused on the proposal for subscription services and strategies for engagement between the two parties.
Also in attendance from the Secretariat were DSP Suresh Subramaniam, Plans and Programmes Officer I; ASP Engku Nurul Aini Engku Malek, Plans and Programmes Officer II; and ASP Nithia Perumal, Police and Services Officer II.
The meeting began with introductions, where Supt. Siva introduced himself as the new Head of Administrative and Technical Staff. Mr. Gary Ong shared his experience in compliance and risk management solutions across the Asia Pacific region and highlighted those three prior meetings had been held to explore collaborative opportunities for 2025. He expressed optimism about the contributions of the team and emphasized leveraging existing connections, particularly with the Royal Malaysia Police and other regional law enforcement agencies.
Moody’s representatives elaborated on two key datasets relevant to law enforcement: corporate registry data and adverse news collections. Corporate registry data provides global insights into parties involved in investigations, while adverse news collections help identify individuals with potential legal issues, offering essential information for effective investigations.
The discussion shifted to scam centres, where Gary clarified that while Moody’s does not have transaction monitoring data, their solutions can provide valuable insights and network analysis related to financial transactions. He stressed the importance of following the money trail to identify scam operations, although their solutions are not specifically designed for scam detection.
Gary also explained that accessing Moody’s database would require a subscription, even for government entities, and reiterated that previous discussions had touched on this topic. He emphasized the importance of fully understanding the proposal and its implications.
The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Gary mentioned that prior engagements with law enforcement focused on sharing insights rather than direct sales, fostering a collaborative environment where agencies can assess their needs and explore potential partnerships.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Supt. Siva, on behalf of the Executive Director, Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, presented the 13th ASEANAPOL Magazine to Moody’s, symbolizing the continuation of communication and collaboration among ASEANAPOL member countries. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with fruitful discussions and an eagerness for future collaboration between all parties involved.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"