No Law To Stop Public From Recording Raids Says Ex Igp

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Four people were arrested for using their phones to record a police raid on a record shop in Penang on Jan 28. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: There are no laws prohibiting the public from recording raids by authorities, including the police, says former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.
This is why police should clear the air over the raid and arrests that were made following a raid on a record shop in Penang recently, he said.
Musa added this was necessary to counter any negative perceptions.
“If there are no laws (banning the recording of raids by the public), why the need to arrest anyone?
‘Under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution, we cannot restrict their freedom,” he said, referring to the personal liberty of an individual.
“Unless there is a law that allows us to do so.”
Musa, who was the country’s top cop from 2006 to 2010, said this is why police must immediately explain if recording the raid was disallowed.
He said this in response to a DAP MP calling for Attorney-General (AG) Idrus Harun to explain why the public is not allowed to record police raids.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng was commenting on an incident where four individuals were arrested in a raid on a record shop in Penang on Jan 28. Out of the four, three were detained for allegedly recording the ongoing raid on their phones.
Musa went on to suggest that enforcement officers must start using body cameras to ward off baseless accusations.
“This was something I suggested before. I also proposed for patrol cars to be equipped with cameras.”
However, the initiative could not be implemented as the government had no funds, he said.
Musa added that Putrajaya could no longer put the initiative on hold as it was a measure that could resolve various issues that would crop up during a sting.
“The main barrier is the lack of government resources and insufficient funds to procure cameras. But if we cannot purchase for the entire force, we could buy some to be used exclusively for raids.” - FMT

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