TOURIST POLICE UNIT TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN ENHANCING SECURITY AHEAD OF ASEAN SUMMIT
By Samantha Tan Chiew Tieng
PUTRAJAYA, April 26 (Bernama) -- The Tourist Police Unit (UPP), a special unit under the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), will play a vital role in strengthening security and boosting tourist confidence ahead of the ASEAN Summit 2025 and Visit Malaysia Year 2026, particularly in the capital and federal administrative centre.
Kuala Lumpur Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief SAC Ravindar Singh Sarban Singh said the visible presence of UPP personnel at hotspots such as Dataran Merdeka, Petaling Street, Little India, Bukit Bintang, Putra Perdana and Masjid Putra contribute to a heightened sense of safety and lowers the risk of crime.
“UPP not only carry out law enforcement duties, crowd, and traffic control, they also act as information and support resource for tourists, including giving directions and offering first-response emergency assistance,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama.
He said UPP’s role as a bridge between tourists, authorities, and local communities, helps create a positive tourism experience in line with the theme ‘The Police and the People are Inseparable’.
“PDRM has also taken early steps by providing in-service training, including English language courses, communication skills, supervision, emergency management, and traffic control, in preparation for ASEAN 2025 and Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
In addition, Ravindar Singh said temporary operations rooms and control centres have also been set up, and inter-agency task coordination has been strengthened to ensure sufficient logistics support and communication equipment.
He said although the crime rate in Putrajaya remains low, safety and well-being remain top priorities, as they reflect the image and symbol of national security.
“Any incident in Putrajaya would have a major impact on international perceptions of PDRM’s capability as the country’s primary enforcement agency.
“Malaysia’s past experience in hosting international summits has built confidence among foreign nations to visit the country. Therefore, we must reinforce the success and confidence by focusing on both micro (detailed) and macro (general) aspects of security to ensure that nothing is overlooked,” he said.
Ravindar Singh said UPP operation offices at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) and Berjaya Times Square would serve as ‘converging points’, allowing officers on duty to assemble, discuss, and take action efficiently, while also serving as a symbol of UPP’s presence at tourist hotspots.
“Planning meetings at both district and headquarters levels will also be held to ensure the smooth execution of 189 ASEAN 2025 main activities, including designating officers in charge at every location,” he added.
He stressed that early intelligence gathering and the development of a comprehensive security plan would be implemented to address any potential threats throughout the course of the international event.
Malaysia will host the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26 and 27, while the ASEAN Summit with Dialogue Partners is set to take place at the end of October, as part of Malaysia’s role as the Chair of ASEAN for 2025.
The 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26 is expected to bring together 10 leaders of ASEAN member states to discuss regional issues, promote economic cooperation, and champion the principles of inclusivity and sustainability.
The ASEAN 2025 theme of ‘Inclusion and Sustainability’ as a unifying basis for regional and global engagement, reflects the region’s collective commitment to shaping an equitable and resilient future.
Malaysia has previously held the ASEAN chairmanship four times, in 1977, 1997, 2005, and most recently in 2015.
-- BERNAMA
