Kuala Lumpur, 9 July 2009 - UCSI University (UCSI), together with the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters Cheras branch, has launched the Rakan Cop programme at the University’s premises today. The occasion was officiated by YDH DCP Dato’ Wira Hj. Muhammad Sabtu b. Hj. Osman, Chief Police Officer, Kuala Lumpur. The event is significant because it marked UCSI University as the first private institution of higher learning in Malaysia to fully co-operate with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) to establish the Rakan Cop programme on its campus.

Earlier, last week, on the 2nd of July, the University, also in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters Cheras branch conducted the Crime Prevention Volunteer Unit Workshop to recruit students as well as staff to be police crime prevention volunteers. More than 250 students and staff participated in the workshop and were officially registered.  By becoming volunteers, students and staff will be able to assist the police in crime prevention campaigns while educating the other students and members of the surrounding community on crime prevention measures. Presently, UCSI University is also the first establishment that the Royal Malaysian Police has chosen to set up the Crime Prevention Volunteer Unit programme.

The Crime Prevention Volunteer Unit programme at UCSI University also involves the international community. Since thirty-eight percent of the University’s students are international students, hailing from Nigeria, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Yemen, United Arab Emirates to name a few,  the Royal Malaysian Police, conducted the workshop in English – also a record first time for the RMP.

As volunteers under the Crime Prevention Campaign Volunteer unit, staff and students of UCSI University will learn about basic policing duties, especially for the purpose of campaigning to establish rapport between the police and community. The programme will in turn inculcate among the students self-confidence and patriotism as well as leadership skills, in line with the University’s commitment to develop graduate attributes.

For any townships and communities the world over, the safety and security of its residents has always been a top priority agenda. This is also true of the UCSI University campus and the community surrounding it. With this objective in mind, the UCSI University’s involvement in the Rakan Cop programme and future programmes with the RMP is anticipated to be a resounding success, in terms of keeping this part of the federal territory a safer and more secure place to live in.

The RMP will continue to work closely with UCSI University in conducting more training workshops and to register more volunteers.