MCPF Penang in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Penang Contingent, and the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) Malaysia Chapter successfully held the 5th International Security Seminar at The Wembley, a St. Giles Hotel in George Town Penang on 24th and 25th September 2019.

The seminar was attended by over 80 participants, 12 speakers, special invitees, and officers from the Royal Malaysia Police Penang Contingent and Interpol. Also in attendance during the opening ceremony was the Mayor of Penang City Council, YBhg. Dato’ Ar. Yew Tung Seang.

During the opening ceremony, Penang state chief of police YDH. CP Datuk T. Narenasagaran expressed the relevance of the seminar as there is presence of the ever-threatening danger of cybercrime in the community. In his officiating address, YDH. CP Datuk T. Narenasagaran said, “It gives me great pleasure to note that the MCPF Penang Chapter, USM and the RMP Penang Contingent have once again embarked to jointly organise this important event pertaining to security concerns and challenges. It takes tremendous efforts to put together a seminar of this scale and this collaboration which has now included ASIS, reflects the highest standard of professional working relationship between these four organising bodies. This also has been a hallmark of our war against crime with the public. The theme of the seminar provides a platform for everyone to enhance their knowledge in the digital age about cyber-crimes and its impact to the world at large.”

Datuk T. Narenasagaran pointed out that digital investigation and evidence procurement had been a great challenge for the police, to safeguard the interest of the public, business communities, investors and the country from all forms of cybercrime. In view of this, the RMP has upgraded its Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) with more state-of-the-art equipment, and enhanced its investigation standards and procedures to combat crimes committed in cyberspace. The RMP has also introduced a campaign called Be Smart and a special web portal called CCID.rmp.gov.my/semakmule to create awareness amongst the public. He calls upon everyone to make use of the platform and avoid being a cybercrime victim.

Over the course of the two-day seminar, participants were brought up-to-speed on cybercrime perspectives by international speakers and local expertise and academia. Some of the topics covered, amongst others, were “Social Engineering – Arsenal for Committing Cybercrime”, “Strategies in Combating Cybercrime”, and “Cyber Fraud and Cryptocurrency Scams: A Billion Dollar Criminal Enterprise”.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Penang Chairman, YBhg. Datuk Seri Syed Jaafar Syed Ali expressed the importance of the seminar for local communities. During his welcoming speech, he said that, “MCPF Penang is proud to be the host of the 5th International Security Seminar this year. The seminar’s theme, ‘Impact of Cyberspace on Conventional Crime: Addressing Critical Challenges and Strategies’ is timely and topical. The nature and mode of crimes and criminal behaviour have changed in this digital age. So, we have gathered experts and practitioners in this area to help us keep up with the times. I am certain that this seminar will achieve its goal and participants would have acquire the necessary awareness and contemporary knowledge on cyber-crimes.”

This article first appeared on Malaysia Safe.