Madpet Renews Call For Cops To Wear Bodycams

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Rights group Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) has called for all police officers to be equipped with body cameras in the next three months.
Madpet spokesperson Charles Hector said it has been more than a year since the budget was passed for police to acquire Body Worn Cameras, yet there continue to be extrajudicial killings by the police.
“Madpet calls for all police officers to be wearing body cameras within three months, and that CCTV with recording capacity be placed in all areas of the police station.
“This is to ensure there is a continuous monitoring of suspects arrested, so that police do not break the laws, and suspects’ rights are protected,” he said.
Hector cited the latest case on New Year’s Eve where a 44-year-old man was killed in a shootout with the police in Penang.
The state police chief Khaw Kok Chin reportedly said that a team from the Serious Crime Division (D9) noticed a driver behaving suspiciously.
“They instructed the driver to stop, but the man accelerated and fired several shots at the car.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspect had 16 prior criminal records involving robberies, drugs, including cases investigated under Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons,” said Khaw.
Hector questioned whether the police went after the man with the intention to kill.
“Was it really a chance encounter with the D9 unit?
“Did the police go in with the intention to kill? If not, why are the police trying to tell us now that the person killed was a bad man?”
“Highlighting allegations that the deceased were involved in several crimes is irrelevant, as the police only have the duty and power to arrest, not kill.
“They are not judge or executioners,” Hector said.
‘Minister must explain’
Hector said the use of body cameras and close-circuit cameras (CCTV) would help ensure the police follow the laws and reveal evidence on any allegations of misconduct, including extrajudicial killing.
Madpet spokesperson Charles HectorHe pointed out that other enforcement authorities, including from the MACC and Kuala Lumpur City Hall, had been equipped with body cameras since last year, so Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail should explain an apparent delay for the police.
“The minister must explain, and if not, then the prime minister must find a more competent minister as the issue of body cameras and CCTV for police and law enforcement has long been top priority,” he said.
In 2021, then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that enforcement officers would be equipped with body cameras, protecting the police from slander by criminals or unscrupulous people.
The government had at the time approved an allocation of RM30 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan for this purpose.
In February last year, Saifuddin said the use of bodycams should be done “as soon as possible” without any compromise on its quality.
However, last October Saifuddin said the police force was expected to fully utilise body cameras beginning in 2025, after going through the whole procurement process including testing, field visits, training and certification this year. - Mkini

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