UTAR hosts training workshop for high-ranking police officers

A post-event photo symbolising the close ties forged between UTAR and RMP

With the aim to provide training to senior-ranking police officers from the Perak State Police Contingent and District Police Headquarters of Perak, UTAR’s Centre for Extension Education (CEE) and the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) successfully organised a workshop titled “The Future of Policing” on 27 December 2016 at Kampar Campus. 

The workshop was conducted by UTAR International Collaboration Partner Prof Prabha N. Unnithan from Colorado State University, USA and Dr Cheah Phaik Kin from the Department of Public Relations, FAS.

The workshop in progress

Besides the 30 senior-ranking Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) officers from the Perak State Police Contingent and District Police Headquarters of Perak, the workshop also saw participation of officers from the Police Volunteer Reserve in Perak. The two-hour workshop was aimed to highlight on four key issues, namely policing and globalisation, police and community, professionalisation and civilisation.

The workshop also touched on issues and challenges facing the police in the 21^st Century. The discussion revolved around the processes that are being affected by the advancement of information and communication technologies. Throughout the workshop, the participants also learnt about the changing roles of the police and criminal justice system in the future. They were also enlightened about the importance of community policing and the roles of police volunteer officers in Malaysia.

Besides discussing issues on policing, the workshop was also aimed at forging better rapport between senior-ranking officers of RMP and the UTAR community. Building a closer relationship between members of the two institutions will not only enhance trust and confidence but also further aid collaborative efforts related to the police and community.

Among the officers present during the workshop were SAC T. Selven, ACP G.S Suresh Kumar, SUPT Lai Lee Ching, SUPT Tukiman bin Serimin, SUPT Noraziah bt Zakaria, SUPT Shahurinain bin Jais, DSP Loo Lian Lay, DSP A. Pamnaswaran, ASP Ahmad Nazeri bin Wahid, INSP Muzayanah binti Mansor, INSP Norsalizah binti Salleh, INSP Abdul Rahim Mahmood, INSP E. Vishnu, INSP Mohd Firdaus, INSP Ashok Kumar, SUPT/SP Ore Hock Seng, ASP/SP A. Loganathan, INSP/SP Yong Chin Kuen, INSP/SP Mazlan bin Hj Mansor, INSP/SP Hj Ahmad Sayuti bin Hj Alias, INSP/SP Kamaruddin bin Sulaiman, INSP/SP Ellya Hazareen bin Tahrim, INSP/SP Mohamad Amin bin Ismail, SM Ravindran Subramaniam and KONST/SP 22629 Firdaus Azmir bin Md Nor.

Pegawai Turus Pentadbiran of the Perak State Police Contingent SUPT Lai said, “The workshop is indeed a good platform for all of us to learn some new concepts and issues that concern the public. The speakers are really knowledgeable and we are glad to be part of this informative workshop. The workshop has clearly described the shifting roles of information technology and its importance in policing.”

The workshop ended with an interactive sharing session and a souvenir presentation by the Head of the Department of Perak Crime Prevention and Community Safety SAC Selven to both speakers.

SAC Selven presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Prabha (left) and Dr Cheah

Professor Prabha N. Unnithan is a Professor of Sociology at Colorado State University, USA. He was born and brought up in Malaysia and completed Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Criminology and Forensic Science in India. He received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His co-authored book, The Currents of Lethal Violence (State University of New York Press) received the 1995 Distinguished Book Award from the Mid-South Sociological Association. He served as President of the Western Social Science Association in 2014-2015 and Secretary of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences from 2013 to 2016.

Assistant Professor Dr Cheah Phaik Kin is a Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) certified trainer who has been conducting trainings for teachers in institutions of higher learning for the past few years. She holds a PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and a Master of Arts (Communication) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Language from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is also a Police Volunteer Reserve Constable with the RMP. Her areas of interest and research are in teacher training, e-learning, volunteerism, community engagement, police science and the criminal justice system.