BEIJING, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is ready to consider adopting modern policing technology based on the Chinese model in high-risk areas and tourist hotspots to strengthen crime prevention, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the approach, which combines high-definition closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and facial recognition systems, could help authorities identify suspects and speed up enforcement actions without relying entirely on the physical presence of security personnel.
Ahmad Zahid said he discussed the matter during his meeting today with China's Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, as well as cooperation in combating transnational crime.
He said China’s non-omnipresence approach allowed high-risk areas to be monitored using technology to help detect criminal activities.
"This is one of the areas of mutual interest that I discussed with Wang. We looked at how the country uses modern policing methods, whereby the non-omnipresence approach helps reduce crime rates in crime hotspots,” he added.
He said this at a press conference with the Malaysian media after the meeting, held in conjunction with his five-day working visit to China, which began on Monday (Oct 12).
He said CCTV cameras installed approximately 50 metres apart in high-risk areas in China enabled authorities to identify suspects and make arrests within less than four minutes of a crime being committed.
He added that Malaysia had previously implemented a modern policing pilot project in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, when he was Home Minister, and that similar systems in tourist hotspots such as Bukit Bintang helped reduce bag-snatching incidents.
However, Ahmad Zahid, also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said budgetary constraints were among the challenges in expanding the use of the technology nationwide.
He said he would share the experience gained from the visit at a Cabinet meeting to assess the technology's potential use, especially in areas with high crime rates and tourist hotspots.
"Perhaps one day, if we have greater financial resources, we could also implement this modern policing model, possibly not across all district police headquarters (IPDs), but only in areas with high crime rates, as well as tourist hotspots,” he added.
-- BERNAMA