KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reportedly said that police officers are expected to start using body cameras this year.

Saifuddin said his ministry has the required to budget implement the policy in an attempt to improve the integrity of the force.

"The budget is available. God willing, if there are no obstacles, this year the police force, patrol unit, traffic division or special force team will be equipped with cameras.

"This is our effort to be ready to adopt the technology. By that, I mean to improve integrity and try to overcome some weaknesses. It is a continuous effort,” he was quoted as saying in a town hall event held by Malay daily Sinar Harian yesterday

In December last year, Saifuddin announced that the government has allocated a budget of RM30 million for the purchase of body cameras for the police.

He said the body cameras have been deemed a "necessity” but added that its acquisition will follow the due procurement process.

Prior to that, in 2021, the previous government had approved an allocation of RM30 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan to purchase body cameras for the police.

According to the ministry, the body cameras will be used by police personnel on duty in the field, especially for the Police Patrol Car Unit (MPV) and Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and police street patrols in 157 district police headquarters across the country.

Saifuddin said a total of 7,648 body camera units will be obtained with an estimated price between RM2,000 to RM2,500 per unit.

He also explained that the purpose of installing body cameras is also to increase the public’s trust in law enforcement in addition to gathering evidence in the event of a specific case.

"We are not looking for an excuse that the police force does not need to be supervised. The police welcomed this decision. This is a continuous effort to improve enforcement agencies,” he said.

The increasing call for the use of body cameras came following cases of members of the public forced to delete recordings of misdemeanours by police officers, with the authorities claiming such moves are allegedly forbidden.