KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)’s Drone Unit of the Air Operation Team (PGU) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) are now extensively using drones to monitor and control public movement during the Movement Control Order (MCO), being enforced until April 14.
Previously, the use of drones was only during the day, but it has been extended to night use now.
On Saturday night, the ATM drones were used in “Op Penawar” to monitor public movement in the Klang Valley, as well as in red zone COVID-19 outbreak areas.
Launched four days ago (March 24), more than 10 units of drones, equipped with heat-sensing technology and speakers, are being used for the purpose.
What is interesting is that these drones are also capable of giving a warning siren and advice, in three languages Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, to the public to comply with the MCO regulations.
The locations where the drones were used include the Selayang Wholesale Market, Keramat Market, Chow Kit and Little India in Brickfields.
The use of drones has been effective to alert and convey information in distant and wider areas as many people still are flouting the stay-home order, with many vehicles still on the road although the MCO has entered its 12th day.
Full compliance by the public to the MCO is expected to break the chain of the COVID-19 infection.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob, at a special press conference yesterday, said a total of 1,046 roadblocks have been mounted since the enforcement of MCO, with 240,544 vehicles inspected.
This has prompted the government to consider more strict measures, he said.
On efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, he said the authorities have done everything possible and will not hesitate to punish those who defy regulations.
Within the past 48 hours, 400 individuals have been arrested for defying MCO, including exercising outdoor and performing Friday prayers at mosques.
As of noon Saturday, a total of 159 new cases were reported, bringing the toll of COVID-19 positive cases in Malaysia to 2,320, with 26 deaths.
— NNN-BERNAMA