On August 17th, 2023, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat hosted a visit from a delegation of Mastercard Asia Pacific, which included Mr. Karthik Ramanathan, Senior Vice President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions; Mr. Rajat Maheshwari, Vice President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions; Mr. Anjum Rahber, Vice President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions; and Mr. Riyadh Dahalan, Director of Government Engagement at
Mastercard.
The Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, Police Brigadier General Zaw Lin Tun, extended a warm welcome to the visitors. He was joined by Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director for Plans & Programmes at ASEANAPOL Secretariat, and Police Superintendent Azrul Hisham Mohd Shaffei, the Head of Administrative and Technical Staff. Also present were Deputy Superintendent of Police Chan Yew Hiok, who oversees Police Services, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh Subramaniam, responsible for Plans and Programmes.
The visit was marked by a concise presentation of each organization's mandates and how they could mutually support and align their objectives. The discussion revolved around potential collaborations in addressing issues like organized cybercrime, fraud, scams, and capacity-building initiatives. Notably, both parties emphasized the importance of raising awareness about criminal methodologies and the significance of training programs. The goal was to enhance efficiency through assessments and capacity-building efforts tailored to the needs of the relevant entities.
The Executive Director of ASEANAPOL Secretariat conveyed sincere gratitude to the high-ranking Mastercard officials for their unwavering support to law enforcement and ASEANAPOL as a whole. During the meeting, the Director for Plans & Programmes shed light on ASEANAPOL's core crime areas, placing particular emphasis on the "follow the money" approach to deter suspicious transactions. He proposed that Mastercard share analytical reports, threat assessments, and solutions for ensuring customer due diligence and preventing illicit transactions in online banking and credit card usage. He also welcomed Mastercard's proposal to raise awareness among bank card and e-banking users about criminal modus operandi in online transactions. It pledged to collaborate closely with Mastercard Asia Pacific to design tailor-made training courses for law enforcement across member countries. Additionally, plans were set in motion to establish a working relationship aimed at assisting in the investigation of illicit transactions.
The Senior Vice President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions highlighted four primary agendas focused on securing transactions and building trust in all interactions. These included enhancing security in the consumer's digital transaction journey, extending security measures beyond card-based transactions, expanding security to cyber environments, and mitigating systemic operational risks.
Discussions also explored the identification of training needs for ASEANAPOL and its member states, along with the exploration of potential joint activities between the ASEANAPOL Secretariat and Mastercard. This visit marked a significant stride towards harmonizing future collaborations by synergizing public and private sector approaches, fostering optimism for a fruitful working relationship ahead.