JOHOR BARU: PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim (pic) has described the government’s initiative to equip enforcement agencies with body cameras as a step backwards that is against human rights.

He said that the government should not treat policemen as well as immigration and customs personnel in the same way as Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) offenders.

“Do not chain up these enforcement personnel with body cameras as if they are criminals themselves.

“The government's move to introduce body cameras is against human rights as the law enforcement officers are civil servants, ” he said in a statement here on Friday (Sept 20).

Hassan also said the usage of body cameras was a primitive move as it does not respect the integrity of civil servants, and added that that there should be other ways to prevent bribery among enforcement officers.

“The Pakatan Harapan government should not admit defeat quickly and waive the white flag by becoming desperate and equipping body cameras on its own civil servants as if they are robots that cannot be trusted, ” he said.

Hassan said the Prime Minister and the Pakatan government’s Cabinet should realise that policemen, immigration and customs personnel are human beings with pride and self-worth, and they should not be put to shame.

Meanwhile, Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) president P. Sivakumar said the he supported the government’s plan to have body cameras on enforcement personnel.

He urged criticsto see the bigger picture as it was the practise of other security countries from developed countries.

“The government’s initiative should be supported as it will help our security agencies to be more transparent against allegations of abuse and corruption.

“Having our security personnel to be equipped with body cameras will also help to improve the system, which is long overdue, ” he said when contacted.

It was reported that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that policemen and other officers involved in law enforcement may soon be equipped with body cameras to increase their level of transparency

He said there have been situations where enforcement officers have been accused of being high-handed, and having the cameras will offer a truthful account.

“These officers will talk or do something while at work, so we want to know if they are doing the right thing, and how they behave towards their client. There are accusations where officers have bullied or beaten up people. So we want to know the truth.

“Of course, the officers will deny while the client will insist it is true. Between the two, we do not know who is right.

“But with body cameras, we will know whether the accusation against the officer has any basis or not, ” said Dr Mahathir at a press conference on Thursday (Sept 19).