MACC lauds use of body cams on enforcement personnel

MELAKA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lauds the use of body cameras on enforcement officers such as the police, immigration and customs to tackle abuse of power and corruption.

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said the use of body cameras had nothing to do with human rights because transparency involved the basic rights of all.

“There is no issue of privacy or basic right, enforcement personnel must ensure the body cam is functioning when on duty and measures, such as disciplinary action, will be taken if it did not function,’’ she told reporters after attending a South Zone Students AntiCorruption Convention at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) here yesterday.

Latheefa said the use of body cameras was necessary for transparency and it could raise suspicion if it was not functioning.

She said a body camera could not only protect the public but also the personnel on duty if accusations cropped up.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government had agreed to implement the use of body cameras on law enforcement officers such as the police, immigration and customs to overcome issues of misconduct.

He said in Putrajaya that the proposal for the use of body cameras was accepted as there had been various allegations of misconduct by officers on duty.

“The officer on duty will wear a body camera, and when he or the client (person being investigated) talks, it will be captured on the camera. We can see what the officer is doing to the client,” he said.