Govt wants body cams used by Immigration Department, Prisons Department, AADK, soon

KUALA LUMPUR: Officers from the Immigration Department, Prisons Department, the Maritime Enforcement Agency and the national anti-drugs agency (AADK) might soon be equipped with body cameras.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said Putrajaya had intentions to extend the usage 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 and among others," said Shamsul in Parliament during Question Time (Feb 21).

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.

Shamsul said body cameras were 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 and the police have intentions to expand the usage of body cams to not just the police, but also other enforcement agencies," said Shamsul.

Shamsul said under the 12th Malaysian Plan, the government had approved RM30mil to be allocated for the purchase of body cameras for the police.

"The usage 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 usage of body cameras after the process (acquisition of body cameras) is completed.

"These are efforts to uphold the integrity of the police and to ensure accountability of officers when in duty, as well as to improve the ethics and professionalism of the force," added Shamsul.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said in December last year that the acquisition of RM30mil worth of body cameras will follow the due procurement process.

The allocation of RM30mil was approved in 2021 under the 12th Malaysian Plan.