Kampar, Malaysia – April 17, 2025 — Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director for Plans and Programs at the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, served as Guest of Honour at the UTAR Soft Skills Festival 2025, organized by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) at its Kampar Campus. Co-organized by ASEANAPOL and the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Kinta District, the student-led event was guided by Prof. Dr. Cheah Phaik Kin of UTAR’s Faculty of Arts and Social Science. It brought together international partners namely Policing TV, UK, the Global Foundation for Community Safety Volunteering, UK, and the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Virginia, USA and was generously sponsored by Chang Jiang International Sdn. Bhd.
A central highlight of the event was the launch of the international awareness campaign, “Think Before You Click: Job Scams Look Real”. Led by students, the campaign demonstrated strong cross-sector collaboration in advancing digital safety. In light of the increasing number of job scams affecting youth across ASEAN, this initiative reflects a forward-looking commitment to preparing future leaders with essential soft skills in crime prevention, critical thinking, and online vigilance.
The festival marked a Strategic Public-Private Partnership of significant importance to ASEANAPOL, reflecting its commitment to fostering regional cooperation, advancing youth-focused crime prevention, and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Building on this collaborative platform, the presence of Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc reflected ASEANAPOL’s broader vision under the leadership of Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan. His engagement at the festival advanced the organization’s outreach objectives to strengthen ties with academic institutions and civil society, and foster regional dialogue on emerging threats such as transnational job scams. The event served as a meaningful step in expanding ASEANAPOL’s visibility and relevance within Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.
In the afternoon, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat was featured in a special interview by Prof Dr Cheah for Policing TV, a leading UK-based law enforcement media outlet. The interview focused on ASEANAPOL’s regional role, its integrated approach to police cooperation, and the leadership of Executive Director Vinluan in fostering partnerships that bridge police organizations and communities across ASEAN.
The festival concluded with enthusiastic feedback from students, faculty members, and international delegates, who praised the event’s focus on youth empowerment, ethical leadership, and digital resilience—core pillars that ASEANAPOL and its partners continue to advocate.
The ASEANAPOL Secretariat remains committed to nurturing partnerships with academic institutions, civic organizations, and international counterparts in pursuit of its mission to promote peace, security, and justice across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Photo Credit: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
