ACP Shahrulnizam at the drone handover ceremony. -- AZLINA ABDULLAH/ The Star
PETALING JAYA police will deploy a drone to monitor and ease traffic congestion during rush hours.
The RM60,000 aerial device is equipped with various features, such as heat sensors and facial recognition software.
It is capable of gathering information within a 4.8km radius and may stay airborne for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Petaling Jaya district police chief Asst Comm Shahrulnizam Jaafar said the drone, donated by QI Group of Companies, would also be used to track missing persons and monitor sites struck by disasters.
“With around 1.8 million residents, Petaling Jaya is becoming one of the densest areas (in Klang Valley).
“It is important for the police to keep up with technology and adopt real-time monitoring,” he said during the drone handover ceremony on Monday in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
He thanked QI Group for the donation and called on more private sectors to contribute equipment to the police.
QI Group business development director Krishna Kumar said the donation was part of the company’s social responsibility to enhance safety in Petaling Jaya.
“This donation underscores our commitment to helping the police ensure a safer environment for our community.
“Partnerships between private groups and the government are crucial to drive innovation and progress,” he said.
The drone was flown for the first time during a pilot test at the event, which had several media members in attendance.
Separately, ACP Shahrulnizam said a new police station would be built in Petaling Jaya soon to cater to the district’s growing population, noting that the allocation was approved in Budget 2025.
He added that there were some 1,700 police officers assigned to cover the area at present.
