KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — The police and a non-governmental organisation have joined forces to step up surveillance in schools nationwide through the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in efforts to curb the spread of negative influences, like bullying and vandalism.
“It can help prevent negative influences in terms of crime and can have an impact on students so that they look after the school and prevent vandalism,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohammad Soaihaimi Rahim, who is deputy director of a community safety and crime prevention department, told a news conference today at the Pandan Capital shopping complex here.
The initiative will be spearheaded by the Crime Prevention and Awareness Board of Malaysia (LKPJM), who pledged to instal the CCTV system in two schools from each state.
“At least two schools in each state will receive it. The point is to help the school in terms of bully cases, vandalism, so we’ll put it in every corner of the school and the system’s management will be in the hands of the school,” LKPJM chairman Datuk Seri Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya said.
To date, two schools in the Klang Valley have received the CCTV cameras, namely SMK Sungai Pusu, Gombak and SMK Putrajaya.
Shaharuddin added that two schools in Melaka will receive the cameras in November while two schools in Penang will receive them in December.
He noted, however, that the selection of schools were not determined by the number of criminal cases reported, but rather based on the advice of the Education Ministry.
“First, we asked the Education Ministry for help, we ask them which schools they think need the CCTV cameras,” he said.
The official launch of the Crime Prevention and CCTV Camera Handover Ceremony will be on September 15, with the deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim scheduled to officiate.
