THE 16th ASEANAPOL CONTACT PERSONS MEETING

THE 16th ASEANAPOL CONTACT PERSONS MEETING
PULLMAN HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
20–24 APRIL 2026

The 16th ASEANAPOL Contact Persons Meeting (ACPM) was successfully convened from 20 to 24 April 2026 at Pullman Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together senior police officials and representatives from across the region and beyond.

Designated Contact Persons from all ten AMCs attended, including the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Cambodian National Police (CNP), Indonesian National Police (INP), Lao Police Force (LPF), Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Myanmar Police Force (MPF), Philippine National Police (PNP), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Thai Police (RTP), and the Office of Investigation Police Agency (OIPA) under the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam.

Participating ADPs included representatives from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China (MPS-PRC), National Police Agency of Japan (NPA-JPN), Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), New Zealand Police (NZP), Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MIA-RUS), Turkish National Police (TNP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

AOBs in attendance included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Italian National Police (Polizia di Stato), Gulf Cooperation Council Police (GCCPOL), National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (MOI-UAE), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

On 21 April 2026, the meeting commenced with an opening session led by the Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, Pol. Snr. Col. Kongkrissada Kittithiraphong, Ph.D. In his opening address, Executive Director Dr. Kongkrissada Kittithiraphong warmly welcomed all delegates and expressed sincere appreciation to the Chiefs of National Police from all AMCs for their continued trust and support.

His presentation outlined the opening remarks for the ACPM, highlighting ASEANAPOL’s strategic direction and commitment to strengthening regional police cooperation. Guided by the theme “Think with Vision, Act with Unity, and Deliver with Results,” ASEANAPOL emphasised a collaborative and results-driven approach to addressing transnational crime within the region.
ASEANAPOL continues to play a central role in fostering cooperation among its member countries and maintaining strong partnerships with its Dialogue Partners and Observers.

The meeting also acknowledged the leadership of key figures, including the current Chairman of ASEANAPOL, Police General Kittharath Punpetch, whose leadership reflects ASEANAPOL’s commitment to enhancing coordination and operational effectiveness across the region. In addition, the Executive Director highlighted that ASEANAPOL aims to work closely with all stakeholders to achieve tangible outcomes, particularly in conjunction with the upcoming 45th anniversary of ASEANAPOL on 23 October 2026.

The remarks concluded with a strong reaffirmation of ASEANAPOL’s spirit: working together to keep the region safe through effective collaboration and meaningful results.

The meeting proceeded with a series of presentations delivered by Pol. Snr. Supt. Huntal Tambunan, Director for Police Services at the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, and Pol. Col. Jean Mary A. Mangahis, Director for Plans and Programmes. Additionally, guest speakers from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LMLECC) contributed to the sessions. The discussions focused on emerging trends in drug trafficking and transnational crime within Southeast Asia and examined frameworks to strengthen joint operations and cross-border collaboration.

Throughout the three-day programme, AMC Contact Persons delivered national presentations, sharing updates on crime trends, enforcement strategies, and best practices. Timor-Leste’s participation marked an important milestone, as it provided its update following its admission as a new ASEANAPOL Member Country.

Constructive discussions were held on key operational matters, including follow-up actions from the 43rd ASEANAPOL Joint Communiqué, strengthening the ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS) through AI integration, addressing outstanding organisational issues, and advancing capacity-building and training initiatives. AMC Contact Persons also deliberated on the proposed budget for Financial Year 2027 and strategic priorities to further enhance regional policing cooperation.

Dialogue Partners and Observers contributed valuable insights by outlining their current and future support to ASEANAPOL, reinforcing a shared commitment to combating transnational crime, including cyber-enabled scams, narcotics trafficking, and other emerging threats.

The meeting provided an opportunity to facilitate preparations for the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference, ensuring that key deliverables and expectations are aligned with the responsibilities of the PNP as the host country. The conference is scheduled to be held in Manila, Philippines, from 22 to 26 July 2026.

The 16th ACPM concluded with a closing ceremony, including the exchange of souvenirs and presentation of certificates, symbolising the strong spirit of cooperation and partnership among participating agencies. The meeting reaffirmed ASEANAPOL’s collective commitment to strengthening regional security, enhancing information sharing, and fostering closer collaboration in addressing evolving crime challenges.