17th Asian Criminological Society Conference opens in Penang

More than 200 local and international delegates, comprising criminologists, legal experts, scholars and academics, gathered at G Hotel Penang today to discuss and analyse current crime trends, their evolution, and emerging forms.

GEORGE TOWN: The 17th Asian Criminological Society Conference opened today, marking the start of a three-day event themed “Contemporary Insights on Crime Trends and Patterns: The Impact of Criminology”.

Bringing together more than 200 local and international delegates, comprising criminologists, legal experts, scholars and academics from across the region, the conference serves as a forum for in-depth discussions on the evolution of crime and its emerging forms.

The conference is organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research, the Asian Criminological Society, the Penang government, and the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (Penang). Twentytwo13 is the official media partner.

Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain (main image) who officiated the event, said it was important to acknowledge and understand the ever-evolving nature of crime.

This includes organised crime, which has evolved from conventional illegal activity into a sophisticated business enterprise driven by technology, global networks and professional expertise.

“Criminals have changed, victims have changed… the question for us is, has criminology changed? This year’s conference is not just timely and relevant, but more pressing than ever,” said Shuhaily.

Explaining the changing nature of crime, Shuhaily said while previous generations studied crime on the streets, today, crime is studied within systems.

He said if criminals are collaborating, researchers and criminologists must also work together to find ways to address the ever-evolving nature of crime.

In welcoming participants, organising chairman Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said their presence at the conference represented far more than attendance at another academic gathering.

“You are here because you believe that crime matters. You believe that justice matters. You believe that evidence matters. And above all, you believe that people matter.”

A renowned criminologist and board member of the Asian Criminological Society, Sundramoorthy said criminologists carry an important responsibility.

“We must never become prisoners of ideology. Our loyalty should always be to evidence. Evidence sometimes confirms our beliefs. Sometimes it challenges them. Sometimes it reveals uncomfortable truths, and good criminology requires intellectual courage.”

Conference adviser Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said one of the conference’s greatest strengths lies in recognising that criminology cannot flourish within the confines of academia alone.

“The most impactful research emerges when academic inquiry is informed by real-world experience, and the most effective public policies are those grounded in rigorous empirical evidence. This is where the nexus between academia and practice becomes indispensable,” said Azeem, who is director of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research.

“The nature of criminal activity has evolved rapidly alongside technological advancement, economic integration, global migration, artificial intelligence, digital finance and transnational networks,” he added.

Asian Criminological Society president Professor Gerry Cano said members of the society cannot ignore the rapidly shifting criminal paradigms unique to the region.

“I believe after this conference, we must direct our collective expertise towards several pressing issues.”

Other keynote speakers included Datuk Seri V. Sithambaram, a senior criminal lawyer with more than 47 years of experience, who spoke on “Crime, Punishment and Proportionality: A Criminological Reappraisal of Criminal Justice in Malaysia/Asia”.

Another presentation, “The Social Architecture of Safety: Building Safer Societies through Restorative Justice”, was delivered by Associate Professor Dr Razwana Begum from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.