ASEANAPOL and UTAR Explore Academic Collaboration to Develop a Practical Report on Anti-Scam Centre Practices

On 13 October 2026, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat held a virtual meeting with Professor Dr Cheah Phaik Kin of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) to discuss the feasibility of collaborating on a comprehensive report drawing on findings from the recent study visits to anti-scam centres in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Secretariat was represented by Police Senior Colonel Dr. Kongkrissada Kittithiraphong, Executive Director; Police Senior Superintendent Huntal Tambunan, Director for Police Service; and Police Colonel Jean Mary Mangahis, Director for Plans and Programmes.

The study visits, supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), provided opportunities for participants to exchange knowledge and learn about different operational approaches to combating scams, including human trafficking and forced criminality linked to scam operations.

The consultation focused on consolidating the information, observations and lessons gathered during the visits into an academically grounded report with practical value. The aim is to provide ASEANAPOL Member Countries with recommendations they can apply when establishing or strengthening their national anti-scam centres, while contributing to the broader development of anti-scam capabilities across ASEAN.

Discussions also explored how anti-scam centres could operate from the initial receipt of reports through coordinated action with relevant stakeholders, including telecommunications providers, social media platforms, banks, cryptocurrency service providers, anti-money laundering authorities, and law enforcement investigators. The proposed report would draw on these discussions to outline practical operational arrangements that member countries could adapt to their own national contexts, strengthening coordination and enabling timely and effective responses to scams.

UTAR responded positively to the discussions, demonstrating strong support and expressing its willingness to work with the ASEANAPOL Secretariat on developing the report. Both parties recognised the value of combining operational experience with academic expertise to produce findings that are credible, relevant and useful in practice.

This consultation represents a constructive step towards translating the study visit findings into practical guidance for member countries and supporting more effective regional cooperation against scams.