Kuala lumpur: Enforcement officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) have begun using body-worn cameras (BWC), particularly for high-risk operations, said its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli. He said the initiative aims to ensure the safety of enforcement personnel and to provide recorded evidence in case of disputes during operations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, today marks the first day JPJ is using BWCs. The department has started with 100 units, and the distribution and use will be phased, beginning with the JPJ headquarters in Putrajaya due to its involvement in special operations. More than half of the units have been allocated to offices in other states for similar purposes, including high-risk operations.

Aedy Fadly also announced the government's approval for the acquisition of 60 new firearms which will supplement the 434 firearms currently in use. He emphasized the importance of this move in improving enforcement effectiveness, enhancing integrity, and protecting officers from unfounded allegations during their duties. The government recognizes the high-risk nature of JPJ officers' work in the field. The new firearms will be acquired this year, with expectations for further acquisitions next year.

Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that 100 BWCs would be issued to JPJ enforcement personnel at the headquarters and state offices, with RM2.3 million allocated for the first phase.