Mohamad Azhan (back row, centre in grey suit) and MBPJ’s athletes all set for MALA 2023 in Johor Baru.
PETALING Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) issued 185 units of body cameras for the use of its enforcement officers last year.
Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Azhan Md Amir said the body cameras were meant to help them carry out their duties with transparency and integrity.
“Our enforcement officers are required to turn on the body cameras when on duty to prevent abuse of power.
“It’s important that the cameras are used when officers engage with the public,” he said after handing over flags to MBPJ’s athletes who will be competing in the Malaysian Association of Local Authorities (MALA) 2023 Sports Championship at Dewan Sivik Petaling Jaya.
Mohamad Azhan said the 185 body cameras should suffice to cater to about 400 enforcement officers.
“We will issue more cameras if there is a need in future,” he said.
On Jan 14, StarMetro reported that MBPJ, Shah Alam City Council, Subang Jaya City Council, Kuala Selangor Municipal Council and Hulu Selangor Municipal Council are among local authorities which had introduced the use of body cameras for enforcement officers.
Selangor local government committee chairman Ng Sze Han had said that local authorities that had equipped enforcement teams with body cameras reported fewer altercations between officers and the public.
Ng said based on the success of the body camera pilot project, the state hoped that other councils would follow suit.
StarMetro had also reported on Jan 9 that more than 100 Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officers would be wearing body cameras when on duty, to prevent bribery and threats.
The footage recorded will also be key in resolving disputes that may occur during enforcement action.
Eighty-nine MBPJ athletes will be participating in MALA 2023 in Johor Baru from Jan 25 to 29.
They will be competing in badminton, bowling, netball, sepak takraw, futsal and carom.
