KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) will soon begin using drone technology to help its personnel increase surveillance coverage, according to Bukit Aman’s Management Department director Comm Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah.
He said the surveillance drones would be an additional unit on top of the existing Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) and the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) that are used to combat crime.
“Currently we have the URB and MPV units in place. They’re effective but the drones will be our eyes in the sky,” he was quoted telling English language daily The Star.
“We can keep an eye over bigger areas and save costs at the same time.”
He added that with drones, the MPV units would not have to be on patrol all the time, as the drones could monitor crime from one spot and have units dispatched when a crime is spotted.
He further told the daily that several drones have already been purchased since Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar announced procurements of new assets last year.
These devices will be tested and placed under the care of the Air Operational Force (PGU), he added according to The Star.
Zulkifli said that the drones would be used for surveillance at public rallies or other areas that police personnel may find difficult to reach.
“Some criminals study out patterns ― they know our patrolling schedules and the routes we use,” he said.
“If we use drones for surveillance, they won’t be able to do that as the area of coverage would be wider.”
