WITH the police force set to be equipped with body cameras, the Immigration Department, Prisons Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and National Anti-Drug Agency may follow suit.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the government has the intention of extending the use of body cameras to enforcement authorities across the board.
“We are all agencies that deal directly with the community and surely data that’s obtained from body cameras can be used in any situation including as evidence in court,” said Shamsul during Question Time in Parliament yesterday.
Shamsul was responding to Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), who asked if there are plans by the government to compel more authorities to be equipped with body cameras.
Not limited to just the police force: Shamsul shedding light on the government’s intention to extend the use of body cameras to enforcement authorities across the board. — Bernama
The Deputy Minister also said body cameras are important to improve the professionalism of police officers.
“We want to improve the integrity of the police and these elements are very important to ensure the credibility of the force.
“Looking at this, the Home Ministry intends to expand the use of body cams beyond the police force to other enforcement agencies as well,” he added.
Shamsul said under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government has approved RM30mil for the purchase of body cameras for the police. That was in 2021.
“The use of body cameras involves 157 district police headquarters across the country and 7,648 police officers.
“For now, the police and Home Ministry have completed the SOP and we will have training on the use of body cameras after the process (acquisition of the device) is completed,” he added.
