KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is using drones to monitor standard operating procedure compliance (SOPs) at Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri bazaars in the Klang Valley.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said police use the drones as officers had difficulty monitoring SOPs at the bazaars.
“At a bazaar, it is difficult to monitor visitor counts, which can usually reach 2,000 to 3,000 visitors in the evening.
“However, the number can reach more than that, and police who operate the drones will ensure visitors who come to the bazaars comply with SOPs.”
Acryl Sani said the use of drones will also give a clear picture of whether physical distancing is practised at the markets.
PDRM Air Operations Drone Unit chief Rasha Azaldin Shafii said his department has been using drones to monitor SOP compliance at bazaars since Thursday.
Several teams from the drone unit will be deployed to monitor several bazaars around the Klang Valley, he added.
“Usually, we will start assigning a drone unit at the bazaar for 30 minutes to monitor SOPs. My team will start flying the drone in the afternoon.
“We monitor SOPs at the bazaar based on the instructions of the district police chief if necessary. We won’t monitor at all times.”
He said all photos and videos can be viewed at the designated drone unit operations centre.
“As the drone is flown, it can see all the movements of visitors at the bazaar, and if they are seen not complying with SOPs, police will reprimand them via the drone’s loudspeaker.” – Bernama, May 1, 2021
