Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad indicated today that the government is looking at equipping selected enforcement personnel with body-mounted cameras as part of its efforts to combat corruption and other alleged abuses of power.
Speaking after chairing the 10th meeting of a special cabinet committee on anti-corruption in Putrajaya, he said other measures to be considered include installing more closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at strategic locations, including police lockups.
"For certain officers, this is so we can see what they are doing.
"If they tried to shut it off we will also know," said Mahathir, who cited immigration and police personnel as examples of potential enforcement officers to be equipped with body cameras.
In the event of allegations being made against enforcement personnel, he said body cameras could provide the necessary evidence to prove or disprove the claims.
"We want to know if a person has been assaulted. There will be denials, but when we have camera footage we will know."
Asked on a targeted timeline to provide enforcement agencies with the equipment, Mahathir said: "When we have the money."
He added that the government's income last year recorded losses of between RM3 billion and RM5 billion due to "leakages" along the country's borders.
Mahathir further revealed that various enforcement agencies had requested to beef up their numbers with new recruits but the government has been unable to meet their demands.
"As we do not have enough money to employ more people, we are looking at ways to shift those already in service to other more urgent tasks," he said, adding that the civil service currently stands at around 1.7 million people.
"To deal with a huge increase in the number of people entering our borders requires new personnel, new equipment and new technologies.
"All these costs money so we will give priority to certain things," he said.
On Tuesday, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto reportedly suggested that police should be equipped with body cameras so that there would be footage that could be used as evidence in investigations, inquiries and court proceedings.
This followed conflicting versions of events in a recent shootout between police and three others in the early hours of Sept 14, in Batu Arang, Selangor.
The families of the two men shot dead by police have demanded answers about what had transpired and on the fate of the wife of one of the deceased who is now missing. - Mkini
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