RMP to use drone technology by year-end

The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) will use drone technology by the end of this year to assist police personnel in carrying out their duties in the Klang Valley.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the remote controlled surveillance drones would be used to monitor situations such as illegal gatherings and for patrols around residential areas.

"Police had ealier formed a Drone Unit under the PDRM Air Unit to facilitate surveillance and currently we are at the training stage.

"Hopefully, we will be able to apply this technology once matters relating to drone licensing are finalised," he told a press conference after closing the 208th Police Day on Thursday.

Khalid added that the police also planned to include a facial recognition application to the drone to match against a database of wanted criminals.

"The use of drones to assist in law enforcement will indirectly reduce manpower and costs," he said.

Meanwhile, he said threats to hack websites of government departments and agencies would be taken seriously by the police.